WikiLeaks cable: Foreign Minister McCully discusses Fiji and Pacific concerns
December 15, 2008 Foreign Minister McCully discusses Fiji and Pacific concerns with departing ambassador
date:2008-12-15T04:08:00 source:Embassy Wellington origin:08WELLINGTON414 destination:VZCZCXRO5891 OO RUEHPB DE RUEHWL
#0414 3500408 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 150408Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5580 INFO
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA IMMEDIATE 0782 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 5352 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 0769
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 0133 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0781 classification:CONFIDENTIAL reference: ?C O
N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000414
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2025 TAGS: EFIS, ENRG, PREL, NZ, FJ, AS, XV SUBJECT: FOREIGN ... ?C O N F I D E N T I A L
WELLINGTON 000414 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2025 TAGS: EFIS, ENRG, PREL, NZ, FJ, AS, XV SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER
MCCULLY DISCUSSES FIJI AND PACIFIC CONCERNS WITH DEPARTING AMBASSADOR Classified By: DCM David J. Keegan for E.O. 12958,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) The Ambassador paid his introductory and farewell call on newly appointed Foreign Minister Murray McCully
December 15. They agreed that there had been dramatic improvement in our bilateral relationship during Ambassador
McCormick,s tenure due to the efforts of many leaders in both governments. McCully said he had taken the opportunity of
the recent APEC meetings in Lima to thank Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill personally.
2. (C) Early in the conversation, FM McCully said that he anticipated that New Zealand,s acting High Commissioner to
Suva might be expelled shortly. He explained that during the recent trip of Pacific Island Forum (PIF) foreign ministers
to Fiji he had been summoned to the office of acting Prime Minister Bainimarama. Bainimarama had said that Fiji was
still waiting for New Zealand to issue a student visa for the son of the President,s Private Secretary. If the visa were
not issued Fiji would expel the High Commissioner. McCully said that the visa applicant had had a student visa to New
Zealand before and might well qualify on his own, but he fell under the visa prohibition against members of the interim
government and their families. McCully made it clear that he considered Bainimarama,s threat to be an effort to
intimidate the New Zealand,s new National Government, and the Government would not buckle. In the next day or two he
would be drafting a response with the bad news, and he expected the High Commissioner,s expulsion to follow soon after.
He expressed the hope that the U.S. would support New Zealand if these events occurred. The Ambassador made it clear
that we understood New Zealand,s situation and supported its response. Embassy Wellington understands that Ambassador
McGann in Fiji has informed Washington that he stands ready to express our disapproval if Bainimarama moves toward such
an action.
3. (SBU) The Ambassador said that New Zealand,s role in the Pacific is one which the United States highly values. He
highlighted the importance of our working with the Pacific Island Countries to address issues such as sustainable
fisheries and renewable energy. McCully said that the new National Government is looking at what steps it can take to
bring a new intensity and focus to these efforts. Ambassador McCormick urged New Zealand particularly to consider the
value of taking the lead with the U.S. in renewable energy efforts. He suggested that the installation of even a single
wind turbine on each Pacific island would remind governments and peoples of our continuing commitment to them. McCully
said that he fully shared that sentiment. He said that he had heard Australian Prime Minister Rudd had suggest that
Australia and New Zealand were spending one billion dollars between them in the Pacific, and they needed to be sure that
they were actually buying something with that expenditure.
4. (SBU) McCully concluded the call by saying that he looked forward to visiting Washington at an appropriate time, and
he would defer to us on what the best time might be.
McCORMICK
ENDS