New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Wednesday the meeting between Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Commodore Frank Bainimarama at the Government House in the morning was constructive.

"We welcome the positive character of the discussions and the constructive spirit that both Prime Minister Qarase and Commodore Bainimarama brought to the table," Peters told reporters at a news briefing.

In an unconventional move, the New Zealand government hosted the crisis talks for Fiji's Government and army leaders trying to avert a coup.

Peters said New Zealand hosted the meeting because "we recognize that resolving the current situation in Fiji is fundamentally important to its future, and to the future of the wider Pacific."

He said consultations and work will continue on the matters under discussion.

The New Zealand foreign minister declined to provide what the Fijian leaders had talked in the meeting, saying New Zealand's role as host and facilitator means it is not appropriate to comment on the nature and substance of the issues discussed.

Qarase, who arrived here Tuesday night for the meeting, and Bainimarama, being here earlier for christening of a granddaughter, have all left for Fiji after the meeting.

Tensions in Fiji have been high since Bainimarama threatened last month to remove Prime Minister Qarase from office.

Bainimarama ever backed down from those threats after Qarase met his demand to amend controversial legislation, removing amnesties for people convicted over Fiji's 2000 coup.

He issued last week demands to the government and a two-week deadline to comply, and has recalled army reservists in readiness for what he describes as a "clean-up" of the Qarase government.

Concerning the situation in Fiji, foreign ministers from 16 pacific nations are to attend a special meeting in Sydney this Friday for possible solution.

Source: Xinhua