The UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Under Secretary-General Mr Hervé Ladsous has commended Fiji military’s efforts in difficult peacekeeping operations in the Middle East and Africa.
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Brigadier General Tikoitoga in the company of Fiji's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson, met USG Ladsous as part of a productive schedule of meetings at the United Nations in New York, which was concluded this week.
Brigadier General Tikoitoga assured USG Ladsous that he will convey the UN's thanks to the Government of Fiji and to Fijian peacekeepers in the field.
The discussions at DPKO addressed peacekeeping resources that will be required for existing and future UN peacekeeping operations.
Discussions also covered the training and equipping of peacekeepers to properly prepare them for the increasingly complex task of peacekeeping.
Brigadier General Tikoitoga and Ambassador Thomson also held meetings with Director Antonella Caruso of the UN Department of Political Affairs to discuss conditions in the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), for which the RFMF provides the Guard Unit.
Discussions addressed the forthcoming rotations of personnel, visa requirements and welfare of Fiji's personnel at UNAMI.
As part of the meetings, the RFMF Commander also met with other sections of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, along with Ambassadors and officials at the United Nations.
Brigadier General Tikoitoga left New York yesterday for a tour of Fiji's UN peacekeeping operations in UNAMI, UNDOF, MFO (Sinai) and UNMISS (South Sudan).