Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has today stressed that Fiji can re-engage in dialogue and restore full diplomatic ties with New Zealand and Australia if they want to re-engage only after democratic elections.
Commodore Bainimarama said this would mean that the re-engagement and dialogue with the two countries will take place after Fiji has elections in 2014 because that is the timeline set for Fiji.
At about 3pm today the NZ Foreign Minister, Murray McCulley announced that Fiji's Acting High Commissioner to NZ, Kuliniasi Seru Savou has been declared persona-non-grata and must leave NZ.
McCulley also said consular support at the NZ High Commission in Suva is also at a minimum at this stage.
Also at about 3pm, Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith has said that they have expelled Fiji's High Commissioner to Australia, Kamlesh Arya and he has been given 24 hours to leave.
Reacting to the responses of the Australian and NZ governments to Fijivillage in the last hour, Commodore Bainimarama said their reactions were expected.
Commodore Bainimarama said in fact, Arya was recalled by him already and it does not make sense why Smith has announced that Arya has been expelled from Australia.
But the Prime Minister maintains that his focus is clear.
Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is concerned over the review of the NZ and Australian government travel advisories for Fiji.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the travel advise should be based on facts and ground realities, not speculation and lies.
Sayed-Khaiyum also questions the governments of Australia and NZ why they are warning people of travel sanctions if they want to take up judicial posts and other positions in Fiji.
He questions whether the two countries want Fiji's judiciary to crumble.
Meanwhile Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith said the Australian High Commission will not be closed in Fiji and Australia still wants to maintain its diplomatic ties with Fiji.
Smith has also revealed that the Australian High Commission officials in Colombo did make it clear to the Sri Lankan judges that if they took up judicial appointments in Fiji, there would be consequences.
The New Zealand High Commission Immigration Section in Suva has been closed to the public but the processing of visa applications is continuing as normal.
NZ Immigration Service officials confirm that Fiji citizens wishing to apply for a visa to visit New Zealand will have to either post their applications by mail or courier and all visa forms can be obtained from their website or mailed to you upon request.
The Officials say the processing of visas is ongoing as usual and they are not aware how long the New Zealand Immigration services will be closed to the public.
Meanwhile, the Immigration Services at the Australian High Commission continue as normal today.
Feature
We can wait and talk in 2014
