The Cook Islands prime minister, Jim Marurai, says Fiji's timeframe to have a new constitution in place by 2013 is too far off.
Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, said the country will start working on a new constitution in three years to pave the way for elections in 2014.
Commodore Bainimarama took power in a coup in 2006 and last April, the president said he had abrogated the 1997 constitution.
Mr Marurai says yesterday's announcement is of some concern.
"At least they are thinking about going back to the democratic way of running the country, but the timing is too long. And they need a parliament to pass the constitution, or the parliament has to sit to pass the constitution or discuss it."
The Cook Islands prime minister, Jim Marurai.
