Fiji interim PM sends letter to New Zealand amid diplomatic crisis
17/12/2008 16:48
New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today that he has
received a letter from Fiji interim government Prime Minister Commodore Frank
Bainimarama, but no action has been taken so far against New Zealand acting high
commissioner in Suva Caroline McDonald.
Bainimarama last week threatened to
expel McDonald unless a visa was granted to a Fijian student who is the son of a
senior official in Suva.
The New Zealand government informed Bainimarama
yesterday that the visa would not be granted, and since then Wellington has been
waiting to see how he would react.
The New Zealand foreign minister said he
had received a letter from Bainimarama which set out his "very firm views" about
some issues.
"As things stand at the moment our high commissioner is still at
her post and I have no word to the contrary. I've had no advice at all on the
status of the high commissioner," the New Zealand Press Association quoted him
as saying.
McCully said he would continue to "work constructively" to resolve
the issue and would reply to the letter on Thursday.
McCully spoke to
Bainimarama by phone yesterday after the formal message telling the Fijian
leader that a visa would not be granted to George Nacewa, the son of Rupeni
Nacewa who is a secretary in the office of the president.
That would breach
the travel sanctions New Zealand imposed on Fiji soon after Bainimarama ousted
its elected government in a coup two years ago.
Xinhua
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