Fiji wants army officer to serve in NZ - report

The military regime in Fiji reportedly wants to send a ranking officer to serve at its High Commission in Wellington.

The move could be seen as provocative given the New Zealand Government's travel ban on members of the military-led regime which was installed following a bloodless coup in 2006 led by Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama who is now Prime Minister.

Relations between New Zealand and Fiji have been rocky and further deteriorated last year with the tit-for-tat expulsion of senior diplomats, which followed Cdre Bainimarama's repeated rejection of international deadlines for elections and anti-democratic measures against the media.

The Fijivillage website today reported that Permanent Secretary for Information and Military Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni had been nominated by the Fiji government to take up a counsellor's post at the Fiji High Commission in New Zealand.

Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office Lt Col Pio Tikoduadua told the website they were awaiting word from the New Zealand Government on their nomination.

A spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully would not confirm whether the Government had received the request yet.

There was a convention against commenting on diplomatic appointments while discussions were ongoing, she said.

Late last year New Zealand and Fiji agreed to improve diplomatic relations after Mr McCully talked to his Fijian counterpart, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, in Nadi about appointments in Suva and Wellington of additional counsellors.

They also agreed, in principle, to appoint deputy heads of mission in both capitals, although that will take longer.

At the time Mr McCully said the moves did not signal a change in New Zealand's policy towards Fiji or changes in sanctions but showed a determination to improve the relationship.

Fiji was down to a single official in Wellington, and New Zealand had just a policy adviser in Suva, with two administration officials and immigration staff.

- NZPA