" Diplomatic eyebrows are being raised by the visit of the Russian Foreign Minister to Fiji, with concerns that Russia is engaging in what Australia last year labelled ''cheque-book diplomacy'' in the Pacific - writes Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald. It is noted that before the visit Sergei Lavrov will meet with Foreign Minister of Australia, and it is expected that Kevin Rudd will ask that Russia maintain transparency in its Pacific dealings.

The publication notes that the concerns of Canberra are due to the fact 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, notes the newspaper.

Last October, Australia's the parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs, Richard Marles, said the Russians were ''exploiting'' some of the world's smallest countries and that this kind of cheque-book diplomacy undermined development assistance in the region.

Sydney Morning Herald recalls that Nauru was reportedly given about $US50 million in aid in return for its support. In the case of Vanuatu, the publication does not mention specific figures, but says that they later dropped the status. Against this background, the press secretary of the Russian Embassy in Australia had to make a comment on Lavrov‘s visit to Fiji and said that the issue of recognition will not be lobbied in Fiji.