Bainimarama hails 'change of stance' by Key

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Fiji military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama says Prime Minister John Key has changed his stance toward his country and it's good news for Fiji.

Earlier this week Mr Key told Auckland's Radio Tarana he wanted to renew engagement with Fiji and would write to Commodore Bainimarama.

"I'm actually in the process of sending him a letter – for trying to engage in more dialogue," Mr Key said. "We have been a bit disappointed with the way things have gone this year. We are not anti-Frank Bainimarama. We do want to see democracy restored in Fiji. And we are prepared to do whatever it takes ..."

Commodore Bainimarama told Radio Tarana on Thursday that Mr Key's statement represented a changed stance and was "a very good change for us, for Fiji ... We would like to continue dialogue with New Zealand and Australia".

The commodore led a military coup in 2006 and removed the elected government of prime minister Laisenia Qarase. This year he expelled an acting New Zealand high commissioner, for the third time.

He hinted in the radio interview that he now wanted to restore diplomatic ties. "To start off a normal relationship we have to re-establish our high commissioners in both capitals. I guess that if he wants to go along that path, it will be a good one for us."

Mr Key said discussions were continuing between Fijian Foreign Minister Inoke Kubuabola and his New Zealand counterpart, Murray McCully, to see the return of a high commissioner to Fiji.

"Let's see how things go and I'd like to see the same track that we were on before Todd Cleaver was declared persona non grata and you know that would be our preference because there are about 20,000 visas issued to Fiji in a year – so having a commission in operation in Suva is important."

- © Fairfax NZ News