Aust-Fiji relations needs to be addressed at highest level

A new report published by the Australian Strategic Policies Institute has recommended that the relationship between Australia and Fiji needs to be addressed at the highest level.

It says this should not be done by pre-conditional demands or through intermediaries.

The report states that at a minimum, the regional sanctions against Fiji must be lifted to re-engage Australia and Fiji through the Pacific Islands Forum.

It states that Australia is the largest, most developed and wealthiest state in the Pacific Islands Forum.

However in the customary thinking on Pacific islands regionalism, the honours of largest and wealthiest belong to PNG while Fiji is regarded as the region’s most developed state.

The review of how Australia is engaging in the South Pacific has also called for sweeping changes in how its government does, and has warned Australia is in danger of losing the support of its biggest ally, the US, in relation to dealing with island nations.

Some of the recommendations in the Australian Strategic Policies Institute report for the Australian government is reviewing security arrangements in the region including involving China in its activities, putting in place a permanent migration scheme with neighbouring island nations, removing its reliance on the Pacific Plan, and also re engaging with Fiji.

The report states that Fiji is the heart of the Pacific Islands regional system and the region cannot survive without its heart.

It says that not only is Fiji the principle transportation and communications hub for the Pacific, it is the diplomatic centre as well.
 
The bulk of the Pacific Islands regional agencies as well as principle international agencies are headquartered in Suva, making the city a networking centre for the smaller forum island countries.

The Australian Strategic Policies Institute report says Frankie Reed, then US Ambassador-Designate to Fiji recently summed up the American view of Fiji’s regional importance “Fiji’s unique position in the Pacific makes it a key focal point for our larger regional engagement with the South Pacific. We seek more direct engagement with Fiji’s government in order to encourage the government in the restoration of democracy”.

Stay with us we will have more on the report and an interview with the lead report writer later today.


Story by: Vijay Narayan