15 Jul 2008

Fiji Human Rights Commission cautions EU not to exploit the Cotonou Agreement

9:46 pm on 15 July 2008

The Fiji Human Rights Commission has warned the European Union not to exploit the Cotonou Agreement.

The Commission has warned that removing grants to Fiji's sugar industry could amount to the EU violating Fiji's freedom of trade rights.

Under the Cotonou Agreement, the EU must not put inappropriate political and economic pressure on Fiji.

The warning was issued by the Commission's chair, Dr Shaista Shameem, after the EU urged Fiji's interim regime to hold general elections by February.

Dr Shaista Shameem says it is not a matter of when Fiji will be ready for an election but it's a sovereignty issue.

"There is something to be said for support, for encouragement, for a dialogue. But quite another to sort of hold and stick and say you must do this or you must do that. I mean I don't think any State is in a position of being dictated in terms of when they should hold elections or how they can hold elections."