This week's meeting between the prime ministers of Fiji and New Zealand is hugely symbolic and significant according to an academic specialising in regional security.
Transcript
This week's meeting between the prime ministers of Fiji and New Zealand is hugely symbolic and significant according to an academic specialising in regional security.
John Key flies to Suva on Thursday, the first visit by a New Zealand prime minister since the 2006 coup.
Mr Key says the time is right for a visit two years after the coup leader Frank Bainimarama was democratically elected.
A senior lecturer in Security Studies at Massey University Anna Powles told Sally Round the aim of the trip is to put the relationship back on an even keel after fractious relations following the coup.
ANNA POWLES: I think our expectations about what will come out of this visit possibly need to be lowered and recognise that the symbolism is just as important as any specific agreements out of this. I don't know whether or not we will be seeing specific agreements on issues or whether or not this is really just about a getting together of two leaders who haven't always seen eye to eye and having the first conversation which will hopefully be the first conversation of many conversations to rebuild the relationship between the two. But I do think that Key's statement that what happened is ancient history is on the one hand his slightly flippant treatment of a fairly significant issue.
SALLY ROUND: And you are talking about the coup here? He said that the coup of 2006 is ancient history.
AP: Yes, absolutely and I think its suggesting that what has happened since is, can also be relegated to ancient history is not particularly helpful because there is still a lot of healing that needs to be done both politically and at the social levels as well.
SR: And do you think issues like treatment of the opposition, human rights issues will be raised by Key during these talks?
AP: We can only hope that Key will raise them. I think that obviously Key will have certain objectives of what he wants out of this meeting. And hopefully resetting the relationship and restoring the relationship will also include the ability to be free and frank on issues like Human Rights.
SR: What are those objectives in your view, of this visit?
AP: In my view the principal objective would be to start the conversation again about how New Zealand and Fiji can work together because it is such an important relationship for both countries as well as for the wider region. I see that as being a key objective, that may not necessarily have outcomes but if we think of this in the context of like a talanoa type conversation. Then this is an ongoing conversation to be built on. These things take time to restore trust and to restore a genuine relationship.
SR: Why is Fiji so important for New Zealand seen in this very high level meeting? The Australian prime minister hasn't gone to Fiji they have sent their foreign minister Julie Bishop.
AP: Indeed, indeed it is important to New Zealand for both historical reasons, we have always had such a strong relationship with Fiji. Fiji is a key country within the region and as we have seen over the last few years prime minister Bainimarama has tapped into a sentiment within the region wanting to push back against a feeling that Australia and New Zealand have driven the agenda politically particularly in the context of the Pacific Islands Forum. It is also about the relationship we have between New Zealanders and Fijians. And what was once such a strong relationship should be so in the future. So this is more than just trade its more than just business it is more than just security and defence relations. It is also about our relationship within the region if New Zealand is genuinely part of the Pacific then we genuinely need to work on those relationships which are important. And that means being open and honest and critical where necessary but also being genuinely engaged too.
SR: So the visit is really just an exchange of niceties in order to establish this relationship?
AP: I believe so although I am sure that there are issues that Key will bring to the table business investment, private sector investment is obviously one of the big ones that New Zealand has been pushing with Fiji since the restoration of ties in 2014. But I think that Key will be mindful of not putting too many demands on the table cause that could potentially set their relationship back.
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