Australia has allowed the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to travel to Australia, in what appears to be further easing of travel restrictions against members of the Fijian Government by that country.
Sayed-Khaiyum transited through Sydney today on his way to Brussels to attend a series of meetings involving the African, Caribbean and Pacific grouping and the European Union.
On his way back, he will spend a few days in Sydney to attend to a personal matter.
Sayed-Khaiyum is the second government minister to be given a visa to travel to Australia since July this year.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola met his Australian counterpart, Bob Carr in Sydney about three months ago where discussions focused on the restoration of official relations between the two countries.
The two countries and New Zealand agreed to ease travel sanctions ‘’on a case-by-case basis’’ – a restriction that has proved a severe irritant for members of the Fiji government, stopping them from travelling via Australia or New Zealand.
The travel ban was enforced after the 2006 coup.
The Australian High Commission in Suva is yet to respond to our questions.
