Ban welcomes move to end state of emergency in Fiji

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the announcement by Fiji that it will lift the state of emergency imposed in 2009, calling it a “positive step” towards restoring constitutional order in the South Pacific archipelago.

Fijian authorities indicated that the public emergency regulation would be lifted by the coming weekend, according to media reports earlier this week.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban welcomed the step and stressed “that it is essential that Fiji’s authorities and all Fijian stakeholders engage in a constructive process of dialogue towards an inclusive election at the earliest.”

Commodore Josaia V. Bainimarama, the Prime Minister of Fiji, took power in a coup d’état in 2006. Last year, during an address to the General Assembly’s annual General Debate, he outlined details of a political road map – which includes the drafting of a new constitution – leading to national elections by September 2014.