NZ expels Fiji diplomat

By COLIN ESPINER - The Press

Last updated 16:32 04/11/2009

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New Zealand has expelled Fiji’s top diplomat in Wellington following the removal of its own head of mission in Suva.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully told journalists that at 3pm this afternoon, Fiji’s acting head of mission Kuliniasi Savu had been told he had been declared “persona non grata’’ and asked to leave the country.

The reaction from the Government came around an hour after New Zealand’s head of mission in Fiji, Todd Cleaver, was told to leave Fiji.

McCully said there were reports Cleaver had been given just 24 hours to leave Fiji, but he expected Fiji to honour the Geneva Convention, which allowed diplomats a “reasonable’’ amount of time to get their affairs in order if expelled.

Cleaver is the third diplomat to be told to leave Fiji after the high commissioner and trade commissioner, as well as New Zealand’s police attaché.

McCully said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s travel advisory for New Zealanders visiting Fiji has been changed to reflect today’s developments in Suva.

“New Zealanders travelling to Fiji should now be aware that the level of assistance the High Commission can provide to New Zealand citizens may be affected due to the depleted staff numbers,” McCully said.

The High Commission in Suva has been closed until further notice.

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