McCully: We can't force Fiji to hold elections

SUVA, Fiji: Military Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama holding a press conference at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks. Photo / Getty Images, Phil Walter

New Zealand can do nothing to force Fiji to restore democracy so there must now be a "period of patience" Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Murray McCully says.

Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth overnight after failing to meet conditions including resuming a dialogue with opposition groups and holding early elections by Tuesday midnight (local time).

Fiji's military leader Frank Bainimarama, who overthrew the elected government in a December 2006 coup has said he intends to hold elections by September 2014.

McCully was a member of the Commonwealth Action Group in London that set yesterday's deadline.

He said Fiji had been given enough warnings.

The rule of law, democracy and human rights were "the glue that holds the Commonwealth together".

New Zealand would not be imposing new sanctions, he said.

"We've simply taken the view that the rest of the international community have fallen broadly into line, we don't see any reason for new initiatives to take place at this stage," Mr McCully told Radio New Zealand.

"There's really nothing we can do to force Fiji to move down a path towards democracy."

Economic pressures would contribute eventually, he said.

The government would be no better than the military regime if it banned New Zealanders from taking advantage of cheap holiday deals to Fiji, he said.

There was some concern that China or another country would offer aid to Fiji but it was important to see "international solidarity", McCully said.

"The message has gone out to other nations that any movement in that vacuum is not welcome and that's a dialogue we'll maintain."

Sir Paul Reeves will travel to Fiji as the Secretary General's representative for talks with the regime.

Fiji has already been suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum, the Commonwealth ministerial meetings and the European Union has suspended aid to the military regime.

- NZPA