15 Jul 2008

Still no Fiji election date

7:33 am on 15 July 2008

The Fijian government says it's still too early to say when elections will be held to return the nation to democratic rule.

Six foreign ministers from around the Pacific are currently in Fiji to press the interim government to honour promises for elections early next year.

They include New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters.

The group has a two hour meeting with Commodore Bainimarama scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Last month, Fiji suspended talks with the Fiji Joint Working Group, citing New Zealand and Australia's "neo-colonial" attitudes as one reason.

Fiji's interim attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed Khayum told Morning Report that New Zealand and Australia have been unwilling to engage in constructive discussions on democracy and described their position as "hypocrticial".

The European Union said during the weekend it has deep concerns that Fiji is pushing back the timeline for elections.

The military took power in Fiji on 5 December, 2006. It was the fourth coup since 1987.