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RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU
INTERIM MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & CIVIL AVIATION
AT THE SIGNING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN FIJI AND TONGA FOR AIR SERVICES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES
(SUVA, FIJI – 6TH MAY 2008)
1. FIRST OF ALL I WARMLY WELCOME THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT FOR THE KINGDOM OF TONGA, HON. PAUL KARALUS AND HIS DELEGATION PRESENT HERE TODAY FOR THE SIGNING OF THE MOU ON AIR SERVICES BETWEEN FIJI AND TONGA. ON BEHALF OF THE INTERIM PRIME MINISTER AND THE GOVERNMENT OF FIJI IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU MINISTER.
2. THE CURRENT ASA BETWEEN FIJI AND TONGA WAS CONCLUDED AND SIGNED BY THE TWO PARTIES ON 17TH NOVEMBER 1977. AN MOU WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SIGNED IN 1999 BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES THROUGH WHICH IT WAS AGREED FOR THE DESIGNATED NATIONAL CARRIERS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES THE RIGHT TO OPERATE AIR SERVICES WITH A MAXIMUM OF 350 SEATS CAPACITY PER WEEK WITH NO RESTRICTIONS TO AIRCRAFT TYPES OR FREQUENCIES.
3. IN THE RECENT PAST TRAFFIC DEMAND TO TONGA HAD INCREASED STEADILY. AS A RESULT THE NATIONAL CARRIER FOR FIJI HAD SOUGHT TO INCREASE THE SEAT CAPACITY ON THE ROUTE FIJI/ TONGA. THIS HAS BEEN FACTORED INTO THE AGREEMENT REACHED BY THE TWO STATES IN MARCH 2008 TO INCREASE THE SEAT CAPACITY FROM 350 TO 1000 PER WEEK WITH NO RESTRICTIONS TO AIRCRAFT TYPES OR FREQUENCIES AND BOTH COUNTRIES HAD AGREED TO THIS. THIS NEW PROVISION WILL CERTAINLY ASSIST OR FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF TOURIST BETWEEN TONGA AND FIJI.
4. THE MOU EFFECTIVELY ALLOW THE EXTENSION OF THE ROUTE SCHEDULE PROVISIONS OF THE ASA TO INCLUDE VAVAU AS THE SECOND POINT IN TONGA FOR FIJI’S DESIGNATED AIRLINE; AND NAUSORI AS SECOND POINT IN FIJI FOR TONGA’S DESIGNATED AIRLINE.
5. FURTHER INCLUDED IN THE MOU IS 5TH FREEDOM TRAFFIC RIGHT FOR THE DESIGNATED AIRLINE FOR TONGA BEYOND NADI AND NAUSORI TO AUSTRALIA. IN THE SPIRIT OF RECIPROCITY THE TONGAN GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO THE 5TH FREEDOM TRAFFIC RIGHT BEYOND FUA’AMOTU AND VAVAU TO NEW ZEALAND FOR THE DESIGNATED AIRLINE FOR FIJI. OUR RESPECTIVE AERONAUTICAL AUTHORITIES WILL BE MEETING SHORTLY TO SORT OUT THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS 5TH FREEDOM BEYOND TRAFFIC RIGHTS.
6. THIS IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING AND ANOTHER CHAPTER IN TERMS OF AIR SERVICES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AS WE STRIVE TO IMPROVE THE TRANSPORTATION OF OUR PEOPLE AND CARGO. TO CONCLUDE I WISH OUR TWO NATIONS ALL THE BEST IN TRYING TO IMPROVE THE AIR TRANSPORTATION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PEOPLES AND THEIR GUESTS WHO WILL VISIT HOPEFULLY IN GREAT NUMBERS. THANK YOU.
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