TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Josaia Bainimarama is learning from Indonesia’s experience in developing democracy. Indonesia was deemed to be one of the countries that has managed to develop direct democracy and guarantee freedom of speech.

“Fiji wants some feedback from us,” said Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa following a bilateral meeting at Merdeka Palace yesterday.

Fiji, Marty said, is in the process of decentralizing. Bainimarama said that the Fiji government planned to general elections in 2014. So far, the Indonesian Foreign Department is cooperating with Fiji to facilitate information from the Indonesian General Elections Committee to the Fiji General Elections Committee about how to hold a democratic election.

The Fiji government also plans to open an embassy in Indonesia. So far, the Fijian Embassy for Indonesia has been located in Tokyo, Japan. Indonesia has had an embassy office in Suva, the capital of Fiji, since 2002.

The two leaders also discussed efforts to improve bilateral relations. Marty said both countries had collaborated in the fields of agriculture and fishery. “Indonesia provides technical assistance in the agriculture, fishery and diplomacy sectors,” he said.

The President met with Fiji Prime Minister, accompanies by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Justice, and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Agriculture Minister Suswono, State Secretary Minister Sudi Silalahi and Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik.

by: EKO ARI WIBOWO

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