30 Oct 2013

Australia's Foreign Minister mum on meeting with Fiji counterpart

9:06 pm on 30 October 2013

The Australian Foreign Minister is remaining quiet on yesterday's meeting with her Fiji counterpart.

Julie Bishop has confirmed she met Ratu Inoke Kubuabola in Sydney, keeping her pre-election promise to be more open with Fiji.

Ms Bishop told Fiji before the election that the new government would be guided by Fiji as to how Australia can assist in the lead-up to next year's planned election.

FBC News says the two spoke about normalising bilateral relations at the earliest possible opportunity, after their discussions in New York last month.

But relations between the countries remain cool with Ratu Inoke saying Australia and New Zealand should decide whether to be donors or members of the Pacific Islands Forum, but not both.

Fiji has not accepted Australia's new High Commissioner despite an agreement last year to restore diplomatic ties.