Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

EU disappointed with Fiji regime’s roadmap

Posted at 23:31 on 02 July, 2009 UTC

The European Union says it’s dissapointed by Fiji’s new roadmap.

Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, said the country would have a new constitution by 2013 to make way for elections the following year and he called on the international community for assistance.

Commodore Bainimarama took power in a coup in 2006 and in April the president said he had abrogated the constitution.

The charge d’affaire for the European Commission in New Zealand, George Cunningham, says he’s concerned that the people of Fiji will now be without a constitution and an elected government for some time yet.

“We appreciate that the interim government wants to reangage in dialogue, but we’re very disappointed that the elections are not announced to be held sooner. So in this respect we’re waiting to hear the reaction from the Pacific Islands Forum on having the elections in five years time.”

George Cunningham says the EU member states will soon review the future of Fiji’s sugar funding and other assistance that’s tied to the elections.