7 Jul 2011

Fiji's CCF urges US policy change

12:54 pm on 7 July 2011

Fiji's Citizens' Constitution Forum is calling on the new United States ambassador to take a lead role in engaging with Fiji rather than being guided by Australia and New Zealand.

The incoming ambassador, Frankie Reed, says a key feature of the US engagement with Fiji is the close consultation and co-ordination with Australia and New Zealand.

But the CCF's chief executive, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki, says that approach won't bring change.

He says coming in with a new approach would ensure that relevant assistance, both technical and financial, in ridding Fiji of race-based voting could be achieved in the lead-up to the planned elections in 2014.