Aust and NZ lift all travel restrictions on Fiji

Australia and New Zealand have lifted all travel restrictions on Fiji.

Australia's Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop said this includes restrictions applying to the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, ministers, military personnel and their family members, government appointees and the judiciary.

Bishop said the decision follows a review of Australia's travel sanctions, which was announced during her visit to Fiji last month.

The travel bans were put in place in December 2006 in response to the military coup.

Julie Bishop said the decision is in line with the Australian Government's policy of re-engagement and normalisation of bilateral relations with Fiji, and follows the significant progress Fiji has made towards holding elections on 17th September this year.

Bishop said Australia will work with the government of Fiji and other donors to support Fiji's election preparations.

In an exclusive interview with Fijivillage, Julie Bishop said this is a new phase in the relationship between Australian and Fiji. 

Bishop hopes many things improve from today. 

 

Meanwhile New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has also announced that New Zealand will also lift all its travel sanctions against Fiji.

McCully said the progress that Fiji is making towards holding free and fair elections deserves recognition from the Pacific region and international community.

He said there are now more than 500,000 people registered to vote in the September elections, electoral commissioners have been appointed and importantly Voreqe Bainimarama has stepped down as the head of the Military.

McCully said the visit by the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group in February was a success and the Commonwealth recently acknowledged the progress that Fiji is making.

He also said that last week the electoral decree was published, an Elections Supervisor appointed, and the 17th of September was announced as the election date.

As a consequence of these developments, New Zealand will be ending all the remaining travel sanctions against Fiji. 

McCully said the changes will end New Zealand's travel ban, and remove all remaining restrictions on New Zealand Government departments working directly with their Fiji counterparts.

Australia also removed all travel restrictions against Fiji earlier today.

 

 

The Fijian Government is pleased with the decision of the Australian and New Zealand Governments to lift all existing sanctions against Fiji.

The Fijian Government said it has always believed that the sanctions were ill conceived and served only to discourage talented and qualified individuals from serving the Fijian people.

Fiji said the removal of sanctions is a positive step towards restoring normal relations between the three governments.

The Fijian government said it looks forward to working with Australia and New Zealand on a number of areas of shared interest.