Is Fiji selling its soul? Nauru was reportedly given about $US50 million in aid in return for its support.
Fijian visit has Russia’s Pacific bid in spotlight
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, is due to met the Fijian military leader Frank Bainimarama on Wednesday or Thursday next week, at the end of a five-country trip through the Asia-Pacific region.
This is because of concerns that Mr Lavrov’s visit may be in part to lobby Fiji to accept the independence of the disputed territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia – the scene of Russia’s 2008 war with Georgia.
This concern follows Russia’s actions last year, when it was accused of providing tens of millions of dollars in aid to the Pacific Island nations of Tuvalu and Nauru in return for their recognition of the Russian puppet states.
Nauru was reportedly given about $US50 million in aid in return for its support. Vanuatu also officially recognised Abkhazia, but later dropped the status.
At the time, the parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs, Richard Marles, said the Russians were ”exploiting” some of the world’s smallest countries.
”This kind of cheque-book diplomacy undermines development assistance in the region,” Mr Marles told the Herald in October.
Full Story at http://www.smh.com.au/world/fijian-visit-has-russias-pacific-bid-in-spotlight-20120124-1qflx.html
No Fiji will not sell her soul. The Russian bribe will go directly into aunty Nur’s account and from there after the deduction of a commission into the foreign accounts of our beloved leader and his chief bodyguard. No souls to sell there though.
Its cheque book diplomacy, if any other nation than ANZUS does it in the Pacific.
Forget souls – for $50 mill Vore & Nailatikau would sell their collective arse’s.
@ truthseek
But not really since ANZUS still give aid to us easy a people – just not for the government.
When was the last time you heard of Russian aid in Fiji?
Get back in your box.
@radiolucas touchy, touchy on the double standards on Aid/Cheque book diplomacy.
radiolucas said: ANZUS still give aid to us easy a people – just not for the government
If Aid went to people as you have erroneously asserted, who exactly were the recipients? Did these people get a cashier checks or cash?
Slither back under the rock of ignorance, whence you came.
truthsuk
Did you note NZ is giving aid to the Red Cross to distribute to the people…that is hardly check diplomacy.
In normal (democratic) circumstances overseas aid would be requested & given -this would include if deemed nesessary foreign military personel & equipment -something for obvious reasons won’t & can’t happen.
Which begs the obvious?
What happens if a future really serious natural disaster strikes Viti?
True to form this regime will shack up with anyone for token support…they have made some quite bizarre overtures to regimes that have no link to fiji whatsoever, can offer nothing and will lead to nowhere all for a news article that all will forget and five minutes of TV promting a regime that has no place being there in the first place.