Commonwealth secretary general congratulates Fiji PM

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma congratulated Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on his election victory, media reported Monday.

Sharma met Bainimarama on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York this week, Fiji Live reported.

According to a statement, Sharma and Bainimaram discussed about the Commonwealth finance ministers' meeting to be held in Washington Oct 8.

The Commonwealth reinstated Fiji last week as a full member in recognition of the "credible election" held Sep 17 and the assumption of office by a democratically elected government.

Fiji was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth in 2006 following a military coup.

A full suspension followed in 2009 following abrogation of the constitution, also excluding the country from sporting events and other Commonwealth activities.

Earlier this year, Fiji's full suspension was scaled back, enabling the country to participate in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.