Bishop restates support for Fiji election

Australia is keen to see a free and fair election in Fiji, which will hold its first democratic poll in nearly a decade on September 17.

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(Karen Middleton)

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been updated on Fiji's progress towards its first democratic elections in nearly a decade.

Fiji has promised to hold elections on September 17, the first since the country's leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in a military coup in 2006.

Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth in 2009 after Commodore Bainimarama failed to meet a deadline to return it to democracy.

But the federal government is keen to normalise Australia's frosty ties with Fiji, and started by lifting travel bans on senior military and government figures in March.

Ms Bishop on Tuesday met her Fijian counterpart Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, where she emphasised Australia's "strong support" for the electoral process.

Australia has accepted in-principle an invitation from Fiji to co-lead an international observer group to oversee the election, and is finalising the terms of reference for the mission.

The two foreign leaders also discussed preparatory work to re-establish defence ties between the two nations.

It's illegal under Australian law to sell weapons to Fiji or provide military advice.


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