New Zealand and Fiji move to improve diplomatic relations

Jan 11, 2010, 23:48 GMT

Wellington - New Zealand and Fiji have agreed to improve diplomatic relations, which have been strained since a military coup in the Pacific island state more than three years ago, it was announced on Tuesday.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said that in talks with his Fijian counterpart, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, in Nadi on Friday and Saturday, the two had agreed to accept another diplomat in each other's capital and reached approval in principle to admit deputy heads-of-mission soon.

Fiji has expelled three senior New Zealand diplomats since military strongman Commodore Frank Bainimarama took power from the elected government in a bloodless coup in December 2006.

Bainimarama has ruled with emergency powers since last April when he sacked the country's judges, abolished the constitution and introduced strict censorship of the press, radio and television.

His refusal to hold fresh elections before 2014 has led to suspension of Fiji's membership of the British Commonwealth of nations and the Pacific Islands Forum. New Zealand and Australia have imposed sanctions and the European Union has suspended aid.

McCully said the ministers had discussed a number of issues of bilateral interest 'in a positive and constructive atmosphere' in their face-to-face meeting which followed ongoing communications over recent months.

They agreed to keep in close contact and to meet as necessary in future, he said.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on December 23 that he was seeking renewed engagement with Bainimarama, who threw out Wellington's acting head of mission Todd Cleaver a month earlier.

'We have been a bit disappointed with the way things have gone this year,' he told a local radio station.

'We are not anti-Frank Bainimarama. We do want to see democracy restored in Fiji. And we are prepared to do whatever it takes - as financial resources and human resources allow - to take place.'

Bainimarama said in November that he had declared Cleaver persona non grata 'to tell New Zealand we can't stand any bullying any more.