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The tense relationship between Fiji and New Zealand has taken a major step forward after both foreign ministers met, reopening communications.
There has been a public war of words since three of New Zealand's High Commissioners were expelled from Fiji, but on Tuesday that changed.
However, Foreign Minister Murray McCully says the move doesn't signal a change in policy towards the military regime of self-appointed prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
McCully revealed on Tuesday he held talks with his Fijian
counterpart, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, in Nadi on Friday and Saturday
and they agreed to the appointments in Suva and Wellington of
additional counsellor positions.
They also agreed, in principle, to appoint deputy heads of mission
in both capitals, although that will take longer.
Relations between New Zealand and Fiji deteriorated last year with the tit-for-tat expulsion of senior diplomats , which followed Bainimarama's repeated rejection of international deadlines for elections and anti-democratic measures against the media.
"None of this signals a change to New Zealand's substantive policy with regard to the regime in Fiji, nor does it signal any change in the sanctions regime currently in place," McCully told reporters.
"But it does signal a determination to improve the relationship, and in particular to be able to agree to disagree about some things."
McCully said the new appointments would leave both countries in a better position to conduct a dialogue.
"I think it got to the point in both cases where the viability of our operations were under threat...this is going to get us into a better space," he said.
Fiji was down to a single official in Wellington, and New Zealand had just a policy adviser in Suva, with two administration officials and immigration staff.
"Countries which disagreed with each other have, over a long period of history, learned how to maintain diplomatic relations," McCully said.
"It's only by maintaining the ability to communicate that you are able to move forward. Even if we strongly disagree, some goodwill come from ongoing communications."
McCully said the Australian government was fully aware of the decisions announced on Tuesday, and supported them.
He said he talked to Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Monday night.
"I've had nothing but encouragement," McCully said.
New Zealand and Australia have worked together since Bainimarama seized power in 2006 and McCully said any further moves to strengthen diplomatic relations, such as appointing heads of missions, would be taken together.
"I don't want to get ahead of Australia, we couldn't be working more closely together," he said.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to visit New Zealand later this week and McCully said he was sure the Fiji situation would be discussed.
But the timing of Tuesday's announcement was not connected with
the visit and had been planned for some time, he said.
Labour Party leader Phil Goff said the move was necessary, but
there should be assurances from Fiji that New Zealand diplomats
would not continue to be deported.
"Restoring our relationship depends on democratic and constitutional processes and human rights being restored," he says.
"We should work in every way possible to progress that, but advancing our relationship is a two-way process.
"So far there has been little or no sign of any willingness by Cdre Bainimarama to commit to those things."
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