SUVA, Oct. 24 -- The Pacific Islands Forum announced on Friday that it has lifted the suspension of Fiji.

According to a statement released on Friday by the Suva-based secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum, Tommy Remengesau Jr., president of Palau and chair of the forum, has advised that Fiji's suspension from the forum be lifted.

"I requested the forum secretariat to deliver my letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Fiji, the Hon. Rear Admiral ( Retired) Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama conveying the decision of the forum leaders to fully lift the suspension of Fiji from the forum forthwith," the statement quoted Remengesau as saying.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders were unanimous in their decision to lift Fiji's suspension based on a recommendation by the forum's Ministerial Contact Group, which paid a two-day visit to Fiji in February, said Remengesau.

"Forum leaders fully welcomed and accepted the recommendation of the forum Ministerial Contact Group and very much look forward to Fiji's participation and contribution in all forum activities, including the meetings of the forum leaders. I thank and acknowledge the forum Ministerial Contact Group on Fiji for its steadfast commitment and hard work," the forum chair said.

"I offer again our warm congratulations to the newly elected government of Prime Minister Bainimarama and commend the people of Fiji for their full participation in the historic election of their leaders and representatives, culminating in results that reflect the will and mandate of the Fijian people," said Remengesau.

Speaking on behalf of the forum secretariat, Andie Fong Toy, acting secretary general of the secretariat said, "We welcome the decision of the forum leaders to lift Fiji's suspension from the forum."

"I wish also to congratulate the government and people of Fiji for the successful conduct and results of its national election. We look forward to Fiji resuming its participation in forum activities," said Toy.

Bainimarama, Fiji's 2006 coup leader who has been ruling the country ever since, won a landslide victory in the latest general election held in September, becoming an elected prime minister.

After the coup, the Pacific Islands Forum suspended Fiji from the group since May 2, 2009 on grounds that the country failed to announce the date of the general election by the May 1, 2009 deadline.

Faced with the estrangement of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Fiji, with the support of a number of fellow Pacific island neighbors and other friendly countries, established the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF), the secretariat of which is also in Suva. To date, two PIDF Summits have been held, where Bainimarama accused the PIF to be "dominated only by a few".

When the PIF Ministerial Contact Group visited Fiji in February, Xinhua asked Murray McCully, New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs and chair of the group for comments on the establishment of the PIDF, and McCully said, "We don't discuss that."