Murray McCully

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - Foreign Minister Murray McCully looks set to meet Fiji's self-appointed prime minister and military leader Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama in Hong Kong next month.

It will be the Government's first direct high-level contact with Cdre Bainimarama, and comes amid efforts on both sides to rebuild diplomatic contact and representation in Wellington and Suva.

Mr McCully is visiting China and Hong Kong next month, and will be in Hong Kong for the sevens rugby tournament between March 26 and 28.

Cdre Bainimarama also intends going to Hong Kong for the tournament.

"In principle, we have agreed to take the opportunity for an informal meeting if this proves logistically possible," Mr McCully told Parliament today.

"Our engagement with the Fiji administration doesn't signal a change of policy, or a change to the sanctions regime."

New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Forum and the Commonwealth have been trying to persuade Cdre Bainimarama, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 2006, to hold democratic elections.

Cdre Bainimarama has consistently rejected deadlines for an election and wants to put a new electoral system in place. He has said he will hold elections in 2014.

Mr McCully gave Parliament an account of measures taken to enhance diplomatic representation in Suva after relations deteriorated last year, resulting in the tit-for-tat expulsion of senior officials.

"We have, since 2007, lost three heads of mission, a trade commissioner, and the capacity to replace police and defence attaches," he said.

"This has seriously threatened our capacity to deliver the range of services we would expect to deliver from the mission -- including our capacity to conduct a meaningful dialogue with the Fiji administration."

Mr McCully said Fiji's mission in Wellington had also been significantly affected.

He announced on Saturday the appointment of diplomats in both capitals, and said today New Zealand had put forward the name of a senior official it wants to appoint as trade commissioner in Suva.

Fiji had asked for an honorary consul in Auckland, and this was receiving favourable consideration.

"Our engagement with the Fiji administration doesn't signal a change of policy or a change to the sanctions regime," Mr McCully told Parliament.

"Our commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights is undiminished."

Mr McCully said the Government's objective was first to restore diplomatic capacity and, having done that, to attempt to resolve some of the "significant and strongly-held" differences with Fiji.

"I hope that we will, as a result of this dialogue, be able to consider changes to the sanctions regime at some point in the future," he said.

"That depends on making progress on some of the important and difficult matters on which we currently disagree.

"We are making progress in small steps but there will be challenges and no doubt the odd setback as we move forward."

Mr McCully said initial moves would be bilateral, but he was keeping the Australian government fully informed.

"If and when the dialogue touches on the restoration of high commissioners, the three-way conversation will resume," he said.

Labour's foreign affairs spokesman, Chris Carter, said his party supported efforts to strengthen diplomatic representation but dialogue had to be a two-way process.

"Issues of concern in relation to Fiji have gotten worse over the last two years," he said.

"There is no clear timetable or commitment to restore the rights of Fiji's people to elect their own government.

"There has been direct interference by the administration in the independence of Fiji's judiciary. There has been continuing censorship of the media."

Mr Carter said there had also been arbitrary arrests, killings, and beatings of people in police cells which had been reported by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other respected organisations.

"Labour believes that, if sanctions are to be lifted, these issues will need to be addressed and responded to positively by the current administration in Fiji."