Brussels, 11/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The General Affairs Council, last Monday in Luxembourg, adopted a decision on the conclusions of the talks with Fiji under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement (suspension clause in case of violation of obligations stemming from crucial elements of EU/ACP partnership: - democracy, human rights, rule of law). These talks unfolded last October, following the events which, starting in May, had lead to the deposition of President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the taking of hostages and the illegal replacement of the democratically elected government, and the shelving of the 1997 Constitution (see EUROPE of 23/24 October, p.10).
The Council, feeling that the events in Fiji followed a "generally more positive course than the scenario apparent in October 2000", decided in particular that, as soon as the free and democratic elections have taken place and a legitimate government is in power: - the granting of aid to the Fiji Islands under the 9th EDF will be notified: - the implementation of the new programmes and projects under the 6th, 7th and 8th EDF can continue. As for the projects underway, they will be implemented as planned, while respecting the "principal of neutrality of Community aid in the period preceding the elections, details the decisions. Moreover, the EU contributions to the regional projects, operations of a humanitarian nature, trade cooperation and trade preferences will not be affected, in order to ensure that the economic interests of the ordinary Fijian citizens will not be affected.
The EU, which confirms its desire to support Fiji in its effort to return to democracy, indicates that it will review its decision in six months, and that it will continue to follow the events, in particular with regards to the rule of law and maintaining order, the election campaign, the forming of a legitimate government and the trial that George Speight (author of the coup last May) and his allies must follow.