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Australia’s acting ambassador to Fiji Sarah Roberts was served with an expulsion notice by the Fiji government first thing today and will now have to leave the country by tomorrow morning.
The Fiji government claims Roberts has been involved in “unfriendly acts” and has tried to interfere in Fiji’s internal affairs.
The expulsion, the second of an Australian diplomat since last year, comes amid a row between Vanuatu and Fiji over Fiji chairing a meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting scheduled to be held at Natadola this weekend.
Vanuatu, the current MSG chair, said there were long term implications of Fiji chairing the meeting which could not be ignored.
Natapei said the decision was made in consultation with the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia’s FLNKS, and Vanuatu.
The Vanuatu PM said he had informed Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama about the decision and had invited Bainimarama to a special meeting of MSG leaders in Vanuatu to resolve the issue.
However, Bainimarama has said today the meeting will go ahead, blaming Australia for influencing Vanuatu.
By Richard Naidu
