Security Council calls for swift and peaceful restoration of Fijian Government

Deploring this week’s coup d’état in Fiji, the Security Council today called for the peaceful restoration of the South Pacific nation’s democratically elected government as early as possible.

In a statement to the press following a closed-door briefing on the issue, Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar, which holds the rotating Council presidency, said the 15 members “strongly hope” all sides will exercise restraint in the wake of the coup.

Mr. Al-Nasser said the Council members were gravely concerned at the turn of events in Fiji, which has had four coups since 1987, and urged a peaceful solution in accordance with the country’s constitution.

The statement added that the Council supports the efforts of the Pacific Islands Forum and other regional and international actors to resolve the political crisis, and called on Secretary-General Kofi Annan to work together with those groups.

Mr. Annan and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour have also issued statements condemning the coup, calling for the immediate reinstatement of Fiji’s legitimate authority and stressing the need for the country to meet its international human rights obligations.