No position on Fiji expulsions

The Times has learnt that the recent round of expulsions of Australian and New Zealand representatives from Fiji and Fijian representatives from Australia and NZ has prompted our government officials to consider whether the Cook Islands should state its position on these developments.
The Times understands officials have sought the Prime Minister’s view and that the response has been that the Cook Islands will not state a position.
This is consistent with the Prime Minister’s advice to this paper earlier this year that the Cook Islands will adopt the position taken by the Pacific Forum and not individually state a position as other Forum countries such as Samoa has previously.
Taking the “collective” approach is wiser as the Cook Islands could raise eyebrows if seen to be falling in behind a former colonial master.
By the same token, Prime Minister Bainimarama could be seen as trying to isolate Australia and NZ from the rest of the Forum by proposing that Fiji and the other Pacific nations form a new group excluding Australia and NZ.
The Times is aware there is some support among Pacific countries for some form of high level mediation direct with Bainimarama himself. That would suggest a group of leaders rather than officials.
Interestingly, mediation is an initiative proposed earlier by the Cook Islands but not progressed for full consideration by the Forum as NZ’s view was that the opportunity had passed because Bainimarama had taken matters to another level.