UN chief calls for 'transparent' Fiji election
UNITED NATIONS (United States) (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called on Fiji's strongman Voreqe Bainimarama to make sure elections promised next year are transparent and democratic, a spokesman said.
Ban and the Fijian prime minister held talks after Bainimarama gave a speech to the UN General Assembly this week in which he slammed international sanctions that the Pacific nation faced over his military coup.
"The secretary general reiterated his hope that the forthcoming 2014 elections will take place in a transparent, participatory and democratic manner," said Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky.
"He encouraged Fiji?s efforts to restore a legitimate government and constitutional order as soon as possible," Nesirky added.
Bainimarama has promised elections by September next year and Fiji, a key contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, is making a tentative return to international acceptance.
New Zealand eased some sanctions against the island this month and the Pacific Island Forum said Fiji could return to the group if the elections are held as promised.
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop held talks with Fiji counterpart Ratu Inoke Kubuabola in New York this week to discuss efforts to normalize their currently rocky ties.
In his speech to the General Assembly on Wednesday, Bainimarama held up the new constitution that his military government has established and insisted that Fiji is heading for a "brighter future".
Bainimarama hit out at countries including Australia, the United States and Britain who imposed sanctions after his 2006 military coup.
"They abandoned us and sought to punish us with sanctions. We sought their assistance and understanding, but they turned their backs on us.
"They chose to support a form of democracy, governance and justice in Fiji that they would never have accepted for themselves," he said.
Bainimarama this year threw out a draft constitution drawn up by constitutional expert Yash Ghai and drew up a new version which rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized.
