6 Mar 2014

UK Govt welcomes move by Fiji

8:31 am on 6 March 2014

The British Foreign Office Minister, Hugo Swire, says he welcomes the news that Fiji's prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has handed over the role of Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to a successor

Mr Swire says the move, along with the recent appointment of the Electoral Commission, represents a further milestone towards a return to democracy.

He says they will look to the Fiji authorities to allow the Electoral Commission to act independently as they take forward the organisation of free and fair elections.

He says they hope that all of Fiji's political parties will be able to campaign without hindrance.

Mr Swire says the UK looks forward to welcoming Fiji back into the Commonwealth family once an election which meets international democratic standards is held and democracy has been restored.