31/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Progress towards democracy. On Friday 28 March, Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative, welcomed the progress made by Fiji towards democracy. She hailed the publication by the Fijian Government of the Electoral Decree, the appointment of a Supervisor of Elections and the announcement of 17 September 2014 as the date of the elections. Ashton said that “these are important milestones in Fiji's transition to democracy”. She also said that she was looking forward to an electoral process that ensured equal opportunities to all candidates and political parties with free and balanced media coverage. She said, too, that a credible, transparent and inclusive process would be important in assuring the people of Fiji and international partners of the legitimacy of the outcome of the elections. (LC)