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Australia and NZ to relax Fiji travel sanctions

July 30, 2012 7:05 pm

Australia and New Zealand have agreed to relax travel sanctions on members of the Fiji government and the military.

This was the outcome of a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Fiji, NZ and Australia in Sydney yesterday.

The Ministers agreed they would look at the sanctions on a case-by-case basis.

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They have also agreed to exchange high commissioners.

The ministers say this will ensure that channels of dialogue between the countries are open and effective.

During the meeting – Fiji’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola provided an update on Fiji’s progress towards the 2014 elections.

He also briefed the ministers on the preparations for the constitutional consultations and the electronic voter registration.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr and his NZ counterpart Murray McCully raised concerns about media freedoms and human rights and looked forward to further steps.

Kubuabola also reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring an environment in which free, fair and inclusive elections can be held.

They have reaffirmed that Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will continue to work together closely to support Fiji’s return to democracy.