The Fiji regime says recent comments by Australia's Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, demonstrate Canberra's prescriptive and high-handed approach to Fiji.
Australian media have reported Mr Carr as saying Fiji is diminished by its refusal to accept Australia's new diplomatic envoy.
But in a statement, the acting Fiji Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says that is gratuitous and unwarranted.
He says Fiji is exercising its sovereign right over the approval of a nominee of another country for a diplomatic mission.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum says Canberra expects Fiji to say yes to everything Australia proposes and he says it is disappointing the Australian government refuses to engage constructively.
