Fiji Aid and Trade in Doubt
- December 9th, 2006
- Posted by EUEditor
The twenty-five member European Union has condemned the coup d’etat in Fiji.
Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid said he firmly condemned the unlawful act by Fiji’s military.
He called for an immediate return to the constitutional order and the restoration of good governance.
He said the military action was a violation of the Cotonou Agreement with the EU, to which Fiji as a signatory was committed to support of human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law.
Such a violation would trigger a number of “instruments”, including consultations between the parties to try and remedy the situation, aimed at a return to civil government in Fiji.
The process could lead to a suspension of cooperation, “as a last resort.”
Under the Cotonou agreement Fiji and other countries of Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific regions obtain development assistance and trade concessions for products including Fijian sugar.
Picture: Coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama; Google – Columbia