Concerns are now being raised on why Fiji is only allowed to appoint an Acting High Commissioner in Australia.
Although Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama has welcomed Australia's decision to increase its diplomatic presence in Australia, he questions why some limitations have been placed on the appointment of the High Commissioner.
"We welcome the news. We’re very pleased with the offer. But I was just wondering why they offered us an acting High Commissioner in Canberra when we have a fully fledged Australian High Commissioner here in Suva," Bainimarama said.
"I can understand if New Zealand wants us to appoint a representative in Wellington it would be an Acting High Commissioner because they have an Acting High Commissioner here."
Bainimarama is also concerned with the Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith branding the interim administration as a regime.
"I was taken aback with their description of the interim government when they described us a the regime. That type of description comes from Pramod Rae and Mick Beddoes and Kinivuai – people who have nothing to offer this government in moving forward," Bainimarama said.
"I’ve questioned that statement and how it’s been put across with that term regime – I very much detest that description of the interim government."
High Commissioner Appointed in Australia Published 01/07/08
Despite the strained relations between Fiji and our neighbours Australia, there are indications that the Australian government is recognizing efforts by the interim government to move towards holdings elections in the country.
In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the Australian government has now agreed to allow Fiji to increase its diplomatic presence in Australia through the appointment of an Acting Fiji High Commissioner in Canberra and the appointment of a Fiji Consul General in Sydney.
Smith said the appointment is designed to improve diplomatic communication between Australia and Fiji and follows on from the recall by the interim government in Fiji of its previous High Commissioner in July 2007.
He said the fact Fiji has appointed a Supervisor of Elections is enough reason to allow the interim government to fill key positions in Australia however he stressed that Australia remains very concerned about the situation in Fiji and recent statements by Commodore Frank Bainimarama that elections will not take place until the electoral reforms and the People’s Charter are put in place.
Smith also said Australia recognizes that, in addition to an election, a political dialogue, without any preconditions, is vital to address Fiji's long term issues and encouraged lasting national reconciliation and stability.
However, he stressed that an election cannot be conditional upon progress on a political dialogue or other processes, as holding elections by March 2009 was Commodore Bainimarama's faithful and unconditional commitment to the Pacific leaders last year.
