FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER MEETS DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE ASIAN AND OCEANIAN AFFAIRS BUREAU

29/11/2013

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola today met with the Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of Japanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Mr Junichi Ihara.

During his courtesy call, Mr Ihara discussed with Ratu Inoke developments on bilateral relations between Fiji and Japan.

Ratu Inoke took this opportunity to thank Mr Ihara for Japan’s support towards Fiji particularly through the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF), which held its inaugural meeting in Nadi from 5-7 August this year.

Ratu Inoke said the PIDF is distinct from the Pacific Islands Forum in terms of membership and also areas of focus.

He said PIDF is essentially focused on the Pacific Islands Developing States and is more consultative and is inclusive of all sectors and all national stakeholders.

"Fiji has extended her foreign relations beyond its traditional boundaries and has managed to strategically engage with the international community without the support of the Pacific Islands Forum, hence we are not obliged or too keen to return as a full member as we have learnt from our own experiences through the isolation policies that were placed against Fiji," Ratu Inoke said.

"As far as we are concerned, the extension of Fiji's foreign policy denotes our stance to fully respect the sovereignty of all countries in our endeavour to be ‘friends with everybody'. This position will not change even after the 2014 elections,” he added.

The meeting concluded with a reiteration of commitments by both Governments to work closely and collaboratively in the various areas of common interests, including assistance towards Fiji in preparation for democratic elections in 2014.

-ENDS-