New Zealand offers assistance in Fiji's return to ballot box

English.news.cn,   2012-07-23

              

WELLINGTON, July 23 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand will give 500,000 NZ dollars (396,762 U.S. dollars) to Fiji's Constitutional Commission and provide technical expertise to prepare for the country's transition from military rule with elections in 2014.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced the offer Monday after a visit to Suva over the weekend for talks with Fiji Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

"New Zealand's funding will support the establishment of the Constitutional Commission and help ensure it is well placed to carry out meaningful dialogue with Fiji citizens," McCully said in a statement.

"In recent weeks a technical expert from New Zealand Post (the national mail service) has worked alongside the Fiji Elections Office on electronic voter registration. I have offered to continue this support and provide additional personnel and resources to aid the enrolment effort," he said.

"New Zealand wants to see a genuine and inclusive constitutional process in Fiji that leads to a sustainable and stable form of government," said McCully.

"The establishment of a democratic government will benefit the people of Fiji and the wider Pacific region."

Last week, the New Zealand Police and security services searched the homes of several Fijians in Auckland in an investigation into an alleged plot to assassinate Fiji leader Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, who seized power in a military coup in 2006.

New Zealand and other member states of the Pacific Islands Forum have implemented sanctions against the coup leaders and members of the military.

Editor: Mo Hong'e

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