EU doubts Fiji commitment to election deadline (AFP)

SUVA (AFP) - The European Union expressed doubt Saturday that Fiji will meet a February 2009 deadline for democratic elections and said the "absence of democratic rule" was a cause for deep concern. At stake is the restoration of millions of dollars in EU aid, which depends on Fiji keeping its commitment to return to democracy following the December 2006 coup. The European Commissioner for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, said the concerns included "the vulnerability of rule of law and respect for human rights" when democratic control is removed. "I can never condone a military take-over," Michel said in a statement after the completion of a fact-finding report by a European Union (EU) delegation which visited Fiji last month. "The EU expects the interim government to meet commitments it has taken... [read full story]