Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has asked his Papua New Guinea counterpart Peter O’Neill to set up a PNG and Melanesian Spearhead Group observer mission for the Fiji elections in 2014.
Following a closed door meeting with O’Neill, Commodore Bainimarama said Fiji does not want a repeat of the problems of the 2006 elections.
He said despite identifying glaring anomalies and fraud the European Union group said the 2006 elections were credible.
Commodore Bainimarama said Fiji needs to have integrity across the entire gambit of the electoral process which also means having an observer group that has integrity.
PNG has announced that it will give $40 million towards the elections preparations in Fiji.
The Prime Minister left PNG this afternoon and is now on his way to New York to chair the G77 meeting.
Meanwhile, Commodore Bainimarama has proposed for the establishment of a Fiji Trade Mission office in Papua New Guinea.
During discussions held this morning with Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and other government officials, the Prime Minister pointed out that a mission would accelerate Fiji's business opportunities in PNG.
The Prime Minister said this trade mission would also position Fiji to penetrate further into the growing PNG economy.
He also spoke about the need for Fiji officials to immediately begin putting in place measures to strengthen relations between the two countries.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
