Carr will offer an olive branch to PM

It seems new Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr will begin to reverse six years of hard line Labor policy against the Fijian Government.

According to Adelaide Now, Carr will offer an olive branch to Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

The new Foreign Affairs Minister is planning to travel to New Zealand to meet NZ Prime Minister John Key to discuss Fiji’s banning from the Pacific Islands Forum in 2009.

Incentives for Fiji are likely to include lifting some of the “sticks” against the government, including the forum ban   and some reversal of Australian sanctions set up in the wake of the coup.

The sanctions also bar entry or transit through Australia for Fijian citizens declared by the NZ Foreign Minister, such as members of the military, the government, their families and other supporters of the Fijian government.

The New Zealand talks would focus on common regional interests in the Pacific Islands Forum, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands and Pacific maritime surveillance.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama will make the official announcement on the constitution consultations this morning at 9.30.

It has been confirmed that Commodore Bainimarama will outline the principles, procedures and time line for the formulation of Fiji=s new constitution.


Story by: Vijay Narayan