10 Sep 2009

Commonwealth's representative to Fiji says he had no say in who he could meet

5:25 am on 10 September 2009

The Commonwealth's special representative to Fiji says he's had no say in who he meets in his three-day trip to the island nation.

Sir Paul Reeves says who he engages with has been dictated by the interim government and he's had to accept that arrangement.

Fiji has been suspended by the Commonwealth but Sir Paul's three-day trip is aimed at continuing dialogue with the military government.

The interim government has stipulated Sir Paul cannot meet with political leaders like Mahendra Chaudhry and Laisenia Qarase.

Sir Paul says the matter has been out of his hands.

"Well we are very much dependent upon what is arranged for us by the government of the day and they have not included all the political parties and basically whatever be our feelings about that, that is the position we accept."

Sir Paul was guarded about his first meeting yesterday with interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama but described it as amicable.