8 May 2007

Fiji envoy says recall not unexpected

3:33 pm on 8 May 2007

Fiji's High Commissioner to New Zealand, Bal Ram, says a review of diplomatic posts under the interim administration was to be expected.

The permanent secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ross Ligairi, is reported to have said the contracts of the heads of missions for New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States would be reviewed.

Career diplomats are unlikely to be affected.

Mr Ram says it is not unusual for political appointments to come under scrutiny after a change in administration:

"Well that I think the is the normal case in most countries. If you are a career diplomat they let you continue, if you are a political appointee they have a closing of that posting."

Mr Ram says he expects to hear officially about the government's plans later this week.