Fed: Aust and NZ abandon calls for Chaudhry s return

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2000
Fed: Aust and NZ abandon calls for Chaudhry s return

Australia and New Zealand say they will accept any leader chosen by the properly constituted
authorities of Fiji.

Australian and New Zealand Foreign Ministers ALEXANDER DOWNER and PHIL GOFF say they
have abandoned their call to have Fiji's deposed prime minister MAHENDRA CHAUDHRY returned
to office.

Both ministers, who met in Auckland this weekend, say it is most important that Fiji
returns to its 1997 multi-racial constitution.

However, Labor Foreign Affairs spokesman LAURIE BRERETON has blasted the government's
position saying the HOWARD government has given up on CHAUDHRY.

AAP RTV eg/wz/jtb

KEYWORD: NZ TALKS (CANBERRA)

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