7 March 2001

Prime Minister Helen Clark said tonight that reports from Fiji that the interim government had tendered its resignation to Fiji President Ratu Josefa Iloilo were encouraging.

Helen Clark said that it would be desirable for the resignation to pave the way for the formation of a government of national unity to put Fiji back on a path to democracy.

"New Zealand is hopeful that the President will accept the resignation of the interim administration and see a government of national unity established.

"Such a development would be seen as a sign of goodwill in Fiji to uphold the recent Court of Appeal decision on the status of Fiji's constitution," Helen Clark said.

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