Fiji rejects Australia's request

Fiji Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola confirmed on Monday that Fiji has rejected Australia's request to upgrade its current first secretary Judith Robinson to act as High Commissioner.

Responding to the request, Ratu Inoke said the government has agreed that the First Secretary be called charges d'affaires, the Fiji Sun daily reported on Monday.

Ratu Inoke said while the relationships between the two countries remain strained, he would try his best to improve the relationship.

Just last week, he met with his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully and reiterated the Fiji government's concern on travel sanctions.

He said New Zealand seemed to have changed tune and was ready to help Fiji's return to democracy in 2014.

Ratu Inoke said they had arranged for another meeting in two week's time.

However, if this did not materialize, they would meet in New York in October at the United Nations General Assembly meeting, Ratu Inoke said.

On whether he would also meet with his counterpart from Australia at New York, he said nothing has been arranged.

Source: Xinhua