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Issue No: 557; 6 March 2001
Australia media report that Australia will keep its sanctions in place until the Qarase regime quits. Reports in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne's The Age say that Australia has disregarded "an angry demand by Fiji's interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to stay out of Fiji's affairs and give it breathing space". It states further that Australia will "continue sanctions until Fiji returns to constitutional democracy". The papers report that there "is an additional threat that last Thursday's new agreement to give fresh life to Fiji's struggling garment industry can be removed at any time." The agreement refers to a successor agreement to the Import Credit Scheme for the garment industry. It came into effect on Thursday 1 March. Even if the Qarase regime "reaches a deal with the Great Council of Chiefs to stay in power" even if this is for a short time, the Australian sanctions will remain. "If that happens", report the papers, "Australia's sanctions - which affect visa arrangements for Fijians travelling in Australia, the aid program, venues for international meetings in the Pacific, sporting contacts and defence cooperation - will remain in place." |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
