PM’s Presser – Fijian minister visits despite ban

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  Scoop Audio: - Prime Minister John Key denies sending mixed messages to Fiji’s military regime – despite inviting a senior Cabinet member to a soccer conference last week in Auckland.

Key told reporters at Monday’s press conference he stood by Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully’s insistence that New Zealand had not dropped its travel ban on Fijian officials.

Speaking at the Hong Kong Sevens last Saturday, McCully told the Associated Press the New Zealand would not lift the sanctions until Fijian Commodore Voreque Bainimarama addressed “real issues around the rule of law and human rights.”

"If Fiji wants us to move on the sanctions, then the answer is obvious: They have to move toward the holding of elections and the establishment of democratic institutions."

McCully was due to meet with Bainimarama during the Sevens but rejected the offer when Fiji’s military-appointed President Epeli Nailatikau was sent in the Commodore’s place.

But McCully – who is also Minister for Sport and Recreation – made no mention of Fijian Education and Sports Minister Felipe Bole’s attendance at a soccer conference in Auckland just days prior.

Bole attended the Oceania Football Confederation’s ministerial conference in Manukau on Monday along with ten other ministers from across the Pacific region.

The Confederation’s website says the ministers discussed tax exemptions for sports facilities, more support for training sports journalists and waiving visa fees for sports teams and officials visiting Australia and New Zealand.

The Ministers agreed to support further discussion at this year’s Pacific Islands Forum – a regional-wide organisation which suspended Fiji’s membership in May last year.

A spokesperson for McCully said last week the Government reserved the right to waive the restrictions where it felt it was beneficial to the region.

Key reiterated those comments Monday, adding that he did not think the visit sent a mixed message.

“The travel ban applies to those in the regime and the family of those in the regime: that means if they want to travel to New Zealand for a personal or private reason, as a general rule the answer will be no.

“But in the case where we think there might be some regional benefit, we reserve the right to allow them to come in.”

“As a general rule the travel ban remains and we’ve got no intention to change it.”

Key confirmed the meeting could have taken place without Bole but said he felt it was appropriate for the Minister to attend.

Key did not expect Fijian attendance at other regional conferences such as trade talks but he could not rule it out, he said.

ENDS

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