Fiji's interim administration is trying to speed up the appointment of its new ambassador designate to the United Nations, Lt Col Mason Smith.
The position has been vacant since the end of the contract of the former ambassador, Col Isikia Savua.
The interim prime minister, Commodore Bainimarama, has told Radio Legend he wants Col Smith to take up the post as soon as possible.
Commodore Bainimarama says the New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark, will fail in her attempts to get Fiji troops out of United Nations peacekeeping operations.
He has also questioned whether New Zealand has any peacekeeping troops with the UN for her to be making such demands.
But Commodore Bainimarama says he wants Col Smith in New York now more than ever, especially because of Helen Clark's stance.
