In a meeting held in Dublin, Ireland this week, the Foreign Ministers of Fiji and Ireland have committed to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
Fiji’s Foreign Minister Inia Seruiratu represented Fiji at the ‘Global Ireland’ conference at the invitation of Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Simon Coveney. During the visit Minister Seruiratu also met the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, Hon. Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.
The meeting was an opportunity for Minister Seruiratu and his Irish counterpart Hon. Simon Coveney to exchange ideas on potential assistance that Fiji could explore through the elevated cooperation with the Republic of Ireland.
Minister Seruiratu said that Fiji and Ireland have enjoyed historic ties that date back to the early 1900’s, when Irish missionaries arrived in Fiji to carry out development work.
“As a new and emerging economic and political power, I welcome Ireland’s ‘Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS)’, and Ireland’s wish to strengthen friendship with Fiji,” Hon. Seruiratu said.
“I would like to thank the Republic of Ireland for the USD12 million development assistance Trust fund provided through the ADB bank for climate disaster resilience. I have also requested Ireland’s support to continually support the Small Islands Developing States call to make the access of climate financing more simple and friendlier and that they be in the form of grants rather than loans,” Hon. Seruiratu elaborated.
Discussions during the meeting included climate change adaptation and resilience, defence cooperation and strengthened commitment to promoting the ideals of multilateralism.
Both Ministers also exchanged views on the implications of the EU and Brexit talks, geopolitical and security developments and reaffirmed their commitment to a rules based order and multilateralism.
In addition, Minister Seruiratu also visited the Republic of Ireland Military Training College, in Carrugh. The Military College is responsible for the provision of training and doctrine to the leadership, management and combat units of the Defence Forces. Training includes career courses, Infantry support weapons, senior management courses and overseas training.
"My visit underscores the strong and broad-based defence relationship between Fiji and Ireland and a military relationship that spans, 41 years since 1978, when we served side by side in Lebanon under the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL),” Minister Seruiratu said.
Hon. Seruiratu also used the opportunity to visit the United Nations Training School Ireland (UNTSI) which was esta