Page 17 - AHATA

A6 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 19 OcTOber 2023
Fijian prime minister 'more comfortable dealing with traditional

friends' like Australia than China

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) announce in San Diego the
— Fiji's prime minister said following day an agree-
Wednesday on a visit to ment on nuclear-powered
Australia's capital that his submarines.
government was "more Under the AUKUS agree-
comfortable dealing with ment, Australia will buy
traditional friends" such as three Virginia-class sub-
Australia as China pursues marines from the United
closer security ties in the States and build five new
Asia-Pacific region. AUKUS-class submarines in
Sitiveni Rabuka and Aus- cooperation with Britain in
tralia's Anthony Albanese response to China's grow-
met during the Fijian's first ing influence.
state visit to Australia since Rabuka said Albanese had
he most recently came called to alert him of the
to power in December deal "because we're fam-
last year. The 75-year-old ily."
former army colonel and But during a discussion on
coup leader had previous- the AUKUS deal on Tues-
ly been Fiji's prime minister day, Rabuka stopped short
from 1992 until 1999. of endorsing the increased
Rabuka sided with Australia military cooperation.
in what he described as the "I was not part of the plan-
"rivalry" and "one-upman- Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, left, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese exchange ning. I'm in no position to try
ship" between the United rugby jerseys after a bilateral meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, Oct. 18, to stop it. This is a tripartite
2023.
States and China. Associated Press strategic project," Rabuka
"We're more comfortable said.
dealing with traditional ward friends and neighbors rity cooperation. region since last year when "All I can do is hope that this
friends, that we have simi- with whom they had cor- Albanese said Australia China struck a security project will assist the con-
lar systems of government, dial relations. would provide Fiji with more pact with the Solomon Is- cept of the zone of peace
that our democracies are The two leaders an- financial support to help lands that raised concerns in the Pacific," he said.
the same brand of democ- nounced several devel- economic recovery after of a Chinese naval base Rabuka plans to ask that
racy, coming out of the opments in their bilateral the coronavirus pandemic being established in the the 18-nation Pacific Is-
Westminster system," Rabu- relationship including an devastated the country's South Pacific. lands Forum endorse his
ka told reporters. elevation of the Fiji-Austra- tourism industry. China has also proposed zone of peace proposal at
"Our justice system, our po- lia Vuvale Partnership, a Rabuka said Fiji's tourist a region-wide security and a meeting in the Cook Is-
licing system -- we're more 2019 agreement on closer numbers and tourism in- economic deal with Pacific lands in November.
comfortable with friends cooperation, consultation come had rebounded to Island nations but several The proposal could include
that we have had over and friendship. pre-COVID levels, with Aus- countries have resisted. nations refraining from ac-
a longer period," Rabuka Australia agreed to sell Fiji tralia the largest source of Rabuka said he had been tions that jeopardize re-
added. 14 Australian-built Bush- visitors. "honored" when Albanese gional order and stability
But Rabuka cautioned master armored military Australia and the United phoned him in March to while respecting neighbors'
against countries appear- vehicles and to reach an States have stepped up say that Australia, the Unit- sovereignty and territorial
ing to be aggressive to- agreement on cybersecu- their engagement with the ed States and Britain would integrity, he said.q

Guatemala Cabinet minister steps

down after criticism for not acting

forcefully against protesters

pro-democracy protesters over her office's investiga- in a statement hours before
that have stretched into a tions into the election vic- the government confirmed
third week. tory of President-elect Ber- his resignation.
Interior Minister Napoleón nardo Arévalo. Barrientos did not com-
Barrientos, a retired brig- Porras had urged the block- ment publicly on his rea-
adier general, resigned ades' immediate removal, sons for stepping down and
late Monday following a with force if necessary. On did not respond to requests
shooting near one of the Monday, hours before Bar- for comments from The As-
Police in riot gear take positions at Constitution Square as roadblocks that killed one rientos quit, she had called sociated Press.
clashes develop during a national strike in Guatemala City, person and wounded two for him to be fired for not Days earlier, however, re-
Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. others. heeding a court order to sponding to a hypothetical
Associated Press Barrientos had said pub- clear them. question from a local news
By SONIA PÉREZ D. minister appears to signal a licly that he preferred to Those responsible for Mon- outlet about what could
Associated Press division within the adminis- seek dialogue with protest- day's shooting were not lead him to resign his posi-
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — tration of President Alejan- ers who have demanded immediately identified, but tion, Barrientos said that a
The sudden resignation of dro Giammattei over how the resignation of Attorney Barrientos' Interior Ministry demand to follow illegal or-
a Guatemalan Cabinet to remove roadblocks by General Consuelo Porras condemned the violence ders would do it.q