21 Aug 2002

EU continues aid clamp on Fiji

1:42 pm on 21 August 2002

The European Union says aid to Fiji will remain suspended unless the Qarase government complies with the Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the cabinet.

Fiji TV says this has been confirmed by Friedrich Hamburger, the European Commission member who attended the post-Forum dialogue in Nadi.

Mr Hamburger says the EU has agreed to fund the ten million US dollar Rewa Bridge project, but other aid will remain cut off if the government ignores the court ruling.

Mr Hamburger says the EU would want to see the court's decision implemented before signing a new cooperation agreement.

He says the EU will continue to support national dialogue efforts in Fiji with funds from its human rights programme.