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New Zealand is expected to announce next week the lifting of sanctions on Fiji imposed after last year's coup, a New Zealand government source has said.
New Zealand imposed limited diplomatic, sporting, and defence sanctions after a coup toppled the democratically-elected government of Fiji's first ethnic Indican Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry in May 2000.
The Australian government has already lifted sanctions, saying the Pacific island nation had made clear progress towards democracy since the racially-inspired coup.
"It is understood that New Zealand will follow suit next week," the source said.
The Foreign Affairs minister, Phil Goff, has said New Zealand will discuss the move with the Commonwealth.
Phil Goff said he welcomed the restoration of democracy in Fiji and accepted that the election process was free and fair.
He said the only outstanding issue was whether Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, had acted against the constitution, by not inviting Mahendra Chaudhry to join the cabinet.
Mr Goff said New Zealand was keen to normalise relations with Fiji as soon as possible, but that he would wait for a recommendation expected to come from the Commonwealth secretary general, Don McKinnon, next week.
© Reuters / RNZ
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