New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith held their first bilateral meeting in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland on Tuesday, one day before the Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers meeting.
The talks focused on democracy in Fiji and regional security in Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands.
The two ministers told a press conference that Australia and New Zealand stand ready to help Fiji hold elections as promised in March next year but they have serious concerns about whether that will happen.
They said that they were ready and willing to help Fiji with financial or logistical support for the elections but are yet to hear from the interim leadership about what is needed
They added that they were willing to talk with the interim Fijian government.
They said the Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers meeting, scheduled on Wednesday, will focus on seeing evidence of details from Fiji's military government on its statements that an election would be held in March 2009.
Smith said Australia and New Zealand both wanted to see a full and free election in Fiji next March.
"A good outcome of tomorrow's meeting would be all of the forum countries agreeing that we want to see a full and free election in Fiji in March of next year and we want the commitment of the interim Fiji government to that," Smith told the press conference.
He added that the Labor government elected in Australia last year would be more open to dialogue with Fiji than the previous coalition government, but it needed to see evidence of progress.
Peters said the forum was likely to have Fiji's delegation present its case, with the other ministers then considering their responses without the Fijians present.
Smith said he and Peters remained committed to their countries playing a full and fair role in Pacific issues.
"When it comes to matters in the Pacific, it's important for New Zealand and Australia to be working very closely together," Smith added.
Source:Xinhua
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