Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama has held a number of bilateral meetings in New York, which he says will derive larger economic benefits for Fiji from its membership in the UN family.

Commodore Bainimarama met with the Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations of the UN, Jean Marie Guehenno and made a commitment to provide extra personnel to the newly enlarged UN Mission to Iraq.

The Interim PM also raised concerns about the interference by countries such as NZ, Australia and others using the UN to pursue their own vested agenda against Fiji.

He later met with the Under Secretary-General for Safety and Security of the UN, David Veness, and discussed about personal security detail services for UN personnel.

Bainimarama also met with Iceland's Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Gretar Mar Sigurosson and discussed the possibility of Fiji benefiting from Iceland's expertise and skills in the geothermal energy and fisheries sectors. The possibility of Fiji and Iceland developing formal diplomatic relations and their bid for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council were also discussed.

He then met with the President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernandez Reyna and witnessed with him the signing of a joint communique to formally establish diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Interim Prime Minister addresses the UN General Assembly at 3:45am tomorrow.