MEETING WITH FIJI INTERIM FM NAILATIKAU: U.S.-FIJI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000195

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV AMGT ASEC FJ
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH FIJI INTERIM FM NAILATIKAU: U.S.-FIJI
RELATIONS; DAS DAVIES VISIT; PICL; AND NEC ISSUE

REF: A. STATE 36142

B. STATE 36888

C. STATE 41666

D. SUVA 193

E. SUVA 158

Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D)

Summary
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1. (C) The Ambassador called on Fiji interim Foreign Minister
Nailatikau on April 4, as instructed. Nailatikau made clear
that the interim government comprehends the U.S. position and
motivations regarding the Fiji coup. Fiji "has been down
this road before" and is the one that "erred."
Representatives from the international community are raising
the same issues, and Fji must respond. Nailatikau welcomed
the coming visit of EAP DAS Davies and agreed to meet with
him. Nailatikau said the interim government understands why
it hasn't received an invitation for the Pacific Islands
Conference of Leaders meeting in Washington next month. The
Ambassador noted any invitation must await political
developments in Fiji. Per Refs C, D, and E, the Ambassador
also raised the diplomatic status for USG overseers of the
New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Suva, observed that MFA's
approach varies from normal practice everywhere else in the
world, and stressed the need for a rapid resolution. MFA
PermSec Ligairi, in the meeting, noted he agrees with the
U.S. position. Nailatikau agreed to address the matter
shortly. End summary.

Interim Fiji Government fully understands U.S. views
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2. (C) As instructed ref A, the Ambassador met with Fiji
interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau and MFA Permanent
Secretary Ligairi on April 4. Nailatikau confirmed he and

SIPDIS
the interim government understand U.S. views regarding the
Fiji coup and its aftermath. He noted: "we are the ones that
erred, and now we need to correct that. We shouldn't be
surprised." He expressed hope that dialogues with the
international community can facilitate progress. He noted
that he had just met with European Union diplomats in
preparation for EU-Fiji consultations under the Cotonou
Agreement on April 18 in Brussels. He would meet next with a
representative from the Commonwealth. The international
community, including the U.S., is all delivering the same
themes, and Fiji now must respond.

DAS Davies visit
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3. (C) The Ambassador said the visit of EAP DAS Davies to
Fiji on April 11-12 would be an opportunity for Fiji to hear
directly Washington's views from the senior policy level;
and, of course, it will be an opportunity for the interim
government to make its points as well. We noted a request
for meetings with Commodore Bainimarama, Nailatikau, and
interim Finance Minister Chaudhry, as well as with a wide
variety of other interlocutors. Nailatikau said he will
definitely be available on April 11 for a meeting. He
offered no response about Bainimarama or Chaudhry.

PICL invitation awaits developments
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4. (C) The Ambassador noted that East West Center invitations
for the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders meeting in
Washington have gone out, but that an invitation for Fiji
awaits political developments. Nailatikau expressed complete
understanding of the U.S. position and said the interim
government realized an invitation would require progress on
the return to democracy. He said, "You are hosting, so it is
your decision."

Diplomatic status for NEC personnel: an update
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5. (C) Given the opportunity, the Ambassador raised the issue
of diplomatic status for State Department personnel being
assigned to Embassy Suva to oversee construction of the New
Embassy Compound (see refs C, D, and E). He described normal
practice everywhere in the world, including in Fiji in the
recent past, and he mentioned the significant injection of
construction funding that is now at serious risk. He
stressed the need for a decision within the next week or so.
Nailatikau took the points, including the need for a rapid
response. PermSec Ligairi interjected: "I agree with the
Ambassador on this issue." Nailatikau asked Ligairi to have

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the issue ready for his consideration before the end of this
week.

Comment
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6. (C) Interim Foreign Minister Nailatikau is an affable man.
As he noted, he and Fiji "have been down this road before,"
so they understand that the rest of the world is not happy
about developments. His mention that it is Fiji, not the
international community, that needs to provide assurances is
useful. However, the reality is that Commodore Bainimarama
and the RFMF are the decision-makers, not MFA, on the issues
of political reforms and time-lines. Ligairi's reiteration,
in the presence of Nailatikau, that he agrees with the USG on
the NEC accreditation issue is encouraging. Nobody at MFA is
saying that the NEC issue is being linked to the political
gulf that currently exists between the U.S. and Fiji. Still,
we thought it useful to note significant economic, as well as
diplomatic, impact if the NEC becomes derailed.
DINGER