Foreign affairs ministers from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific are praising Fiji for the progress it's made towards free and fair elections due to be held in just over six months' time.
Murray McCully. Photo: RNZ
Foreign Minister Murray McCully is chair of the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group (MCG), which has been tasked with monitoring the country's transition to democracy and has just finished a two-day visit to Fiji.
The MCG is made up of ministers from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The group of ministers last visited Fiji in April last year, and say that since then, significant efforts have been made in preparation for the elections.
As examples of progress they cite Fiji's newly approved constitution, the registration of four political parties and the enrolment of more than 540,000 voters, including those living overseas.
Mr McCully said there had also been a detailed work programme with New Zealand Electoral Office officials involved in it for many months.
The group met with Fiji's attorney-general and foreign minister and members of the Electoral Commission.
The ministers agreed to recommend to the Pacific Islands Forum that Fiji be invited to take part in negotiations on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations and in forum trade ministers' meetings.
Mr McCully said Fiji's absence from trade talks has penalised the region, because it's a big economy.
Australia 'normalises' relations with Fiji
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she is normalising relations with Fiji by holding talks with its leader, Frank Bainimarama.
He has promised his military-led government will hold democratic elections this year.
Julie Bishop. Photo: AAP / ALAN PORRITT
The ABC reports that Ms Bishop has been discussing trade, investment, education and defence with him.
Ms Bishop said they talked about increasing trade and investment opportunities by restoring the bilateral government industry working group which collapsed after the Bainimarama led coup in 2006.
Civil servant exchanges, education scholarships and allowing people from Fiji to join Australia's seasonal worker programme were also part of the normalisation package proposed by the foreign minister.
She also wants to reignite the once-strong ties in defence training and cooperation.
Ms Bishop said a review of travel restrictions on members of Fiji's coup-installed government is under way and will be finished within days.
She said while Australian travel restrictions remain officially, they have been substantially eased.
"Since we became the government, we have issued visas to all those who have applied for them," Ms Bishop said.
It's the first meeting between a senior Australian minister and Commodore Bainimarama since 2008.
