Fiji's interim Attorney General says New Zealand and Australia are trying to increase pressure on Fiji by merging their political concerns with a vital regional trade issue.
Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum says this is the effect of advancing discussions on the enlarged version of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations without any involvement from Fiji.
Because of its suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum Fiji was excluded from last week's Trade Ministers' meeting in Apia which agreed, that from August, the region should formally launch negotiations on PACER Plus.
PACER - Plus aims to create a Pacific common market but Mr Sayed Khaiyum says if Fiji is excluded from the negotiations the scheme would have no credibility.
He claims New Zealand and Australia have brought together two unrelated distinct issues.
"You have the political side but of course you have the trade and economic side which is a completely separate area. it really does not augur well, and on the eve of doing these sorts of discussions you then have the Australia and New Zealand Foreign Ministers saying, you know, let's remove Fiji from UN peace keeping missions. I think that is trying to up the ante."
