The Fiji regime appears to have softened its stance on European Union election observers and may accept some for the elections promised for next year.
In April, Fiji's prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said he didn't want a repeat of events in 2006 when the EU declared the election credible despite what he asserts were anomalies and fraud.
He said Fiji needed observers with integrity and proposed a joint Papua New Guinea/ Melanesian Spearhead Group mission.
The European Commission's deputy director general for development co-operation, Marcus Cornaro, has met Commodore Bainimarama in Suva and says the EU will help with election preparations.
"I did make the point, which he picked up and confirmed, for this to be fully transparent and internationally acceptable elections, it would be good if they were internationally observed, and this is a point the prime minister confirmed for himself that that was what he intended."
In 2006, the EU sent a 40-strong observer team to Fiji to oversee the election which produced a coalition government that Commodore Bainimarama overthrew half a year later.
