Cook Islands FM defends EU trade commissioner criticism

24/04/2008 10:32:16

The Cook Islands foreign minister, Wilkie Rasmussen, has defended his comments about one of the European Union's trade commissioners.

Tense trade negotiations between Pacific Island trade ministers and a European Union trade commissioner have been revealed after a series of letters was leaked to the media.

In his correspondence, European Union Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson asked Mr Rasmussen to publicly correct what he calls "unnecessarily offensive" and personal comments about his negotiation style.

But Mr Rasmussen has defended his comments, and told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat programme, the commissioner took a harsh and unneccessarily domineering approach to the talks.

"We came out of there feeling like we had been totally run over by his team. You know, there's a style, there's a protocol - I don't think he really gave us the time for that."

The European Commission has declined to comment.

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