EU aid to Fiji at risk because of democracy worry
Source: Reuters
BRUSSELS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The European Commission warned Fiji on Wednesday the European Union may suspend aid of tens of millions of euros unless democracy was restored in the south Pacific islands where the military seized power last month. The Commission said it wanted to start talks with Fiji on the return to civilian rule and if the talks failed cooperation between the 27-nation bloc Fiji could be suspended. Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj said EU development aid to Fiji was to be 22.1 million euros in the 2000-2007 period and was set to grow to 30.2 million euros in 2008-2013. A cooperation suspension would also stop separate EU aid for the reform of the Fiji sugar sector, one of the island's key industries, which would have been even bigger than the development aid, Altafaj said. Under an agreement between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, including Fiji, its signatories must respect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Commander Frank Bainimarama staged Fiji's fourth coup in 20 years on Dec. 5 and was sworn in as interim premier on Jan. 5 by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, whom he had reinstated a day earlier after assuming the head of state's largely ceremonial powers during the coup. "The EU remains firmly committed to the welfare of the people of Fiji, and even more so in this dark hour," the Commission said in a statement. "In case of a convincingly positive outcome of the coming consultations regarding early restoration of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, suspension of cooperation may be avoided, and support for remedial measures could be considered," it said.
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