Why do this to Fiji?
That is the question Fiji's Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has asked his Australian and NZ counterparts after confirmation that Fiji will not be allowed to take part in any new UN peacekeeping missions.
While the Australia Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd had earlier announced that he had successfully pleaded with the UN about removing Fiji from new peacekeeping missions, Bainimarama says it needs to be realised that he is in power to end the coup culture in Fiji.
Bainimarama questions what Australia and NZ is trying to achieve to get Fiji peacekeepers out of the new missions.
Meanwhile a former New Zealand diplomat has spoken in support of Fiji in relation to the push by Australia and New Zealand for Fiji soldiers to be excluded from new UN Peacekeeping Missions.
Radio New Zealand reports that former NZ Ambassador to the UN Terence O'Brien has criticized the move against Fiji saying its hamfisted of New Zealand and Australia to push for Fiji's exclusion, when they and other countries have reduced their peacekeeping activities.
O'Brien said NZ has to be more prudent, stressing that if they go around asking the UN not to take troops from countries that have a military rule, then they would have to ask the UN to remove Pakistani troops, Thai troops and the list can go on and on.
While addressing the UN General Assembly in New York at the weekend, Commodore Bainimarama said Fiji is disappointed with what appears to be a decision of the United Nations to exclude Fiji from new peacekeeping missions with no clear explanation given.
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Why do this to Fiji-PM
