The New Zealand government has taken immediate retaliatory action after acting New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji Caroline McDonald was declared Persona Non Grata and told to leave the country by the interim government.
Foreign Minister Murry McCully announced at a press conference last night the expulsion of Fiji's acting High Commissioner to New Zealand Pon Sami Chetty.
McCully said the New Zealand government has no intention of making concessions while having a gun pointed to its head adding that there were attempts to solve the impasse however to no avail.
McCully could not confirm when McDonald would leave Fiji and added that they are now looking at how the New Zealand High Commission in Suva would operate under the current circumstances.
It is expected that Pon Sami Chetty will arrive in the country via the first flight out of Auckland later this morning.
At a press conference late yesterday Interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said McDonald has been given reasonable time to leave.
Sayed-Khaiyum added 0the Australia and New Zealand diplomats have not been acting in an appropriate manner in Fiji which has led to the decisions to expel McDonald.
He said the Interim Government wishes to make it very clear that this is purely a bilateral matter between Fiji and New Zealand and in now way should have implications on Fiji's bilateral relations with other countries, including its commitments and obligations to the Missions based in Suva, the wider International Community as well as the Pacific Islands Forum.
Sayed-Khaiyum did not confirm whether the Australian High Commissioner James Batley will see the same fate.
Meanwhile, the Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has said in a statement that the interim government in Fiji has refused to issue a diplomatic visa for Australia's Defence advisor to the South Pacific, who is based at the High Commission in Suva.
Smith said this was an important position, not only for Fiji but four other Pacific island nations. He said this is unhelpful and destructive behaviour from Fiji which should instead be focusing all of its efforts to returning Fiji to democracy.
The former Prime Minister and SDL Leader Laisenia Qarase said the Interim Government's actions are uncalled for, unnecessary, undiplomatic and immature.
Qarase said Fiji cannot afford to isolate itself from other countries adding that the Interim Government must not expect normal relations with the International community.
Qarase also said Fiji depends on the international community adding that this action by the Interim Government is a national embarrassment.
The former Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry said the expulsion of the New Zealand Acting High Commissioner is the most unfortunate development that has taken place.
He said the action will not be taken well in the Pacific Island Forum Leaders meeting next month in Port Moresby.
Meanwhile, the National Federation Party (NFP) has condemned the step taken by the Interim government.
General Secretary Pramod Rae said party is cautious as there is a fear that the interim government could also take actions against political parties who meet with diplomats.
Feature
New Zealand Government Retaliates
