Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has announced an end to regulations that imposed martial law on the Pacific Island nation in 2009.
In his New Year's address, Commodore Bainimarama said the Public Emergency Regulations would end from Saturday.
The regulations give police and the military extended powers, censor the media and restrict public assembly.
Commodore Bainimarama stressed public order would be maintained and that he would be announcing a nationwide consultation process for a new constitution, beginning in February.
"My fellow Fijians, we can only achieve success if all of us take part in the modernising of Fiji and if we think nationally.
"All Fijians are, and must be, one. 2012 is going to be a time of further empowerment. 2012 is going to be a time for good accomplishment for our nation and our people."
Commodore Bainimarama says the new constitution must establish a democratic elected government and certain features will be non-negotiable.
"The constitution must establish a government that is founded on an electoral system that guarantees equal suffrage.
A truly democratic system based on the principal of one person, one vote, one value. We will not have a system that will classify Fijians based on ethnicity."
He says 18-year-olds must also have the right to vote.
Commodore Bainimarama has been under heavy pressure to return Fiji to democracy, after delaying parliamentary elections several times.
Relations between Fiji and other countries have soured since he seized power in a coup in 2006.
Step in right direction - NZ
New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister says the decision to scrap the emergency regulations is a step in the right direction - but the international community will want to see the lives and freedoms of ordinary Fijians improved.
Murray McCully says the New Zealand Government has been calling for the lifting of the regulations as an important step towards holding free and fair elections.
Mr McCully says it also welcomes Fiji's plans to hold public consultations on a new constitution.
But he says Fiji will need to do more if it expects sanctions against it to begin to thaw.
Since 2006's coup, New Zealand has imposed sanctions that include a travel ban to this country for any member of the Fiji Military Force.
