16 Jul 2010

Fiji may not allow any more Australian High Commissioners into the country

2:04 pm on 16 July 2010

Fiji interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says he's not keen on hosting a new Australian High Commissioner because he says he fears continued meddling by Canberra in Fiji's affairs.

Mr Bainimarama told FijiLive there's no use in his regime setting guidelines because the interference will continue.

Acting High Commissioner Sarah Roberts was declared persona non grata on Tuesday after Fiji blamed Australia for the cancellation of next week's summit of Melanesian leaders in Fiji.

The MSG chair, Vanuatu Prime Minister, Edward Natapei, cancelled the meeting amid concerns that Mr Bainimarama, a non elected leader, was to assume the chairmanship.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has rejected Fiji's claims of interference as nonsense.

But he says Canberra had made representations that Fiji's proposed expanded MSG - Plus was inappropriate and could undermine the primacy of the Pacific Islands Forum summit next month.