The Fiji interim government has accused the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General of poor leadership and practising double standards in relation to Fiji.
Pacnews quotes Fiji's new interim foreign minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola as saying the double standards exemplified by the Forum Secretariat in inviting Fiji to trade discussion on a selective basis are a poor reflection of the secretariat's leadership.
Ratu Inoke says it's inconceivable that the Secretary-General, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, continues to overlook and disregard Fiji's position in the Forum's economic cooperation activities in relation to the PICTA, PACER and PACER-Plus trade discussions.
He has accused Mr Slade of serving mainly Australian interests rather than the interests of the Forum members as a whole by excluding Fiji from the discussions.
He says that PICTA and PACER Agreements are governed by separate and definite rules and are international stand-alone agreements.
Ratu Inoke says as far as Fiji is concerned, it still a member of the Forum and as such it has every right including legal right to be included in all discussions and negotiations.
