EU Disappointed With Interim PM's Road Map

By Angela Marie Watkins
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji - The European Union says it is disappointed by Fiji’s new road map.

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

Leaders in Samoa, the Cook Islands, Australia, and New Zealand have openly condemned Bainimarama's time table. 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 reengage in dialogue, but we’re very disappointed that the elections are not announced to be held sooner,” said Cunningham.

The EU member states will soon review the future of Fiji’s sugar funding and other assistance that is tied to the elections and Cunningham says the road map may influence the review.

“We have coming up soon a review of where Fiji’s going and the appropriation measures such as sugar funding and assistance funding, which at the moment is tied to democracy coming in by certain deadlines, far sooner of course than the expected deadline of 2014. We’re very very disappointed by the announcement,” said Cunningham.

The European Commission canceled Fiji’s 2009 sugar allocation in the absence of any indication that a legitimate government would be in place this year.

For more information, please see:

Radio New Zealand International - EU disappointed with Fiji regime’s roadmap - 2 July 2009

Radio New Zealand International - EU says Fiji roadmap may affect sugar assistance review - 3 July 2009

Radio Australia -  More regional reaction not good for Fiji leader - 3 July 2009