The stance of the New Zealand Government is baffling and most un-Pacific.

These are the words of Interim Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau in a letter to Chair of the Pacific Island Forum and Tonga Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele last week, expressing his disappointment at the New Zealand Government giving the Fiji delegation only transit visas to New Zealand, where bilateral talks will be convened.

Nailatikau in the letter said this is a deliberate attempt to disrupt Fiji's full and appropriate participation in the 39th Pacific Island Leaders' Forum Session and associated meetings adding that Fiji's participation is being undermined.

The Interim Foreign Affairs Minister also said the Interim Government recognizes that it is within New Zealand's sovereign right to act in any way it wishes however restricting Fiji's participation in the Forum process is a totally different matter and the application of the bilateral travel restriction is clearly and literally in violation of Fiji's right to fully benefit from the regional process of the Pacific Islands Forum.

The Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama this afternoon confirmed that there has been no feedback on this letter which was sent last week.