Fiji and the United Nations
Encyclopedia
The Republic of Fiji
(as it is now) established its Permanent Mission to the United Nations
on 13 October 1970, three days after obtaining its independence from the United Kingdom
. Since then, Fiji's participation in the United Nations has been notable primarily for its active role in UN peacekeeping
operations, which began in 1978. Fiji soldiers served in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
, which Fiji's Major General George Konrote
commanded in 1998 and 1999.
The country has also contributed to other operations including Kosovo
and Sinai, and, in 2004, Fiji was the first country to volunteer troops to protect United Nations officials in Iraq
. The BBC
has remarked on Fiji's "long and proud history of sending its forces to the world's trouble-spots". As of September 2004, 35 Fiji soldiers had been killed in the line of duty while serving on UN peacekeeping missions.
As of April 2007, Fiji had 292 soldiers, police officers and military observers serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations in Iraq, Liberia
, Sudan
and Timor-Leste. Following the military coup in Fiji in December 2006
, New Zealand
and Australia
urged the United Nations to suspend Fiji's participation in peacekeeping operations, at first to little avail. Questioned by media, a spokesman for the office of the Secretary-General stated that "[t]he United Nations is grateful for the service provided by Fijian personnel to UN peacekeeping operations over many years and for the Fijian personnel currently serving in dangerous UN assignments, including in Iraq".
Fiji's military leader and interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama underlined his country's "proud track record in UN peacekeeping operations of professionalism, discipline, compassion and ability, training and ethics". In September 2008, Fiji's participation in peacekeeping operations has reportedly been suspended. In April 2009, however, United Nations peacekeeping missions were still employing 282 Fijian troops, military observers or police, a fact criticised by New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully
.
Following lobbying from New Zealand and Australia, the United Nations announced that it would "continue to use Fijian police and soldiers in its current peacekeeping missions, but [would] not increase their numbers in future deployments". In March 2010, this led newly appointed Fiji Ambassador Peter Thomson
to approach U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
to express Fiji's readiness and wish to commit further troops to U.N. peacekeeping operations. As of June 2010, "Fiji troops are [...] the only UN blue helmets in Iraq since 2004 with a 221 strong contingent".
Issues emphasised by Fiji at the United Nations in recent years have included the effect of climate change
, notably on Small Island Developing States
. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly
in September 2008, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama stated:
Fiji abstained from voting on
Fiji voted against
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
(as it is now) established its Permanent Mission to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
on 13 October 1970, three days after obtaining its independence from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Since then, Fiji's participation in the United Nations has been notable primarily for its active role in UN peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operations, which began in 1978. Fiji soldiers served in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, was created by the United Nations, with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 on 19 March 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, restore international peace and security,...
, which Fiji's Major General George Konrote
George Konrote
Major General Jioji Konousi Konrote, MC, better known as George Konrote, is a retired Major-General of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and a former diplomat. From May to December 2006, he was a Fijian Cabinet Minister. He is a native of the island of Rotuma...
commanded in 1998 and 1999.
The country has also contributed to other operations including Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
and Sinai, and, in 2004, Fiji was the first country to volunteer troops to protect United Nations officials in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
has remarked on Fiji's "long and proud history of sending its forces to the world's trouble-spots". As of September 2004, 35 Fiji soldiers had been killed in the line of duty while serving on UN peacekeeping missions.
As of April 2007, Fiji had 292 soldiers, police officers and military observers serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations in Iraq, Liberia
United Nations Mission in Liberia
The United Nations Mission in Liberia is a peace-keeping force established in September 2003 to monitor a ceasefire agreement in Liberia following the resignation of President Charles Taylor and the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War....
, Sudan
United Nations Mission in Sudan
The United Nations Mission in the Sudan was established by the UN Security Council under Resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005, in response to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on January 9, 2005 in Nairobi,...
and Timor-Leste. Following the military coup in Fiji in December 2006
2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
urged the United Nations to suspend Fiji's participation in peacekeeping operations, at first to little avail. Questioned by media, a spokesman for the office of the Secretary-General stated that "[t]he United Nations is grateful for the service provided by Fijian personnel to UN peacekeeping operations over many years and for the Fijian personnel currently serving in dangerous UN assignments, including in Iraq".
Fiji's military leader and interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama underlined his country's "proud track record in UN peacekeeping operations of professionalism, discipline, compassion and ability, training and ethics". In September 2008, Fiji's participation in peacekeeping operations has reportedly been suspended. In April 2009, however, United Nations peacekeeping missions were still employing 282 Fijian troops, military observers or police, a fact criticised by New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully
Murray McCully
Murray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
.
Following lobbying from New Zealand and Australia, the United Nations announced that it would "continue to use Fijian police and soldiers in its current peacekeeping missions, but [would] not increase their numbers in future deployments". In March 2010, this led newly appointed Fiji Ambassador Peter Thomson
Peter Thomson (diplomat)
Peter Thomson, born in Suva in 1948, is a Fiji Islander diplomat of Scottish descent, and Fiji's current Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He also has Australian and New Zealand citizenship....
to approach U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
to express Fiji's readiness and wish to commit further troops to U.N. peacekeeping operations. As of June 2010, "Fiji troops are [...] the only UN blue helmets in Iraq since 2004 with a 221 strong contingent".
Issues emphasised by Fiji at the United Nations in recent years have included the effect of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, notably on Small Island Developing States
Small Island Developing States
Small Island Developing States are low-lying coastal countries that tend to share similar sustainable development challenges, including small but growing populations, limited resources, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters, vulnerability to external shocks, excessive dependence on...
. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
in September 2008, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama stated:
- "On the issue of Climate Change, Fiji looks to, and is relying, on your leadership. This is a very critical issue for the very small island and atoll nations in the Pacific. While the rest of the World continues to endlessly debate the implications of climate change, in the very small islands and atolls in the Pacific, the problem is very much upon us; it is now a present and very real danger. It poses a serious risk to regional stability and security. I appeal to the international community, and its system of institutions, to enhance efforts to assist us address (sic) the threat of global climate change. We need investments in adaptation measures. We need to move from rhetoric to a more pragmatic and speedy response. We call upon the agencies, and our regional partners, to coordinate efforts to ensure that we in the Pacific region have the capacity, both human and institutional, to deal with this new threat, especially as it is getting stronger. The observed and potential impacts on our people and ecosystems, due to climate change, are all too real and immediate." (bolded in original)
List of Ambassadors
The following individuals have held office as Ambassador of Fiji to the United Nations.| Order | Chief Justice | Term of office |
| 1. | Semesa Sikivou Semesa Sikivou Semesa Koroikilai Sikivou was a Fijian academic, politician, and diplomat.- Education and career :Sikivou graduated from New Zealand's University of Auckland, and went on to become the first Fijian to acquire a post graduate degree from the London School of Economics.He taught at Suva Methodist... |
1970 – 1976 |
| 2. | Berenado Vunibobo Berenado Vunibobo Berenado Vunibobo was Fiji's permanent representative to the United Nations from 1976–1980 and from 2008–2010, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Civil Aviation 1997-1998. During his second term, he represented the unelected Fiji government led by Commodore Voreqe... |
1976 – 1980 |
| 3. | Filipe Bole Filipe Bole Filipe Nagera Bole is a Fijian politician who hails from the village of Mualevu on the island of Vanuabalavu in the Lau Group. He has long had a reputation as one of Fiji's few politicians untainted by scandal, and is noted for his moderate views... |
1980 – 1983 |
| 4. | Ratu Ratu Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"... Jone Radrodro |
1983 – 1985 |
| 5. | Winston Thompson | 1985 – 1991 |
| 6. | Manasa Seniloli | 1991 – 1995 |
| 7. | Poseci Bune Poseci Bune Poseci Waqalevu Bune is a Fijian politician, who has served as Deputy Leader of the Fiji Labour Party . From June to December 2006, he served as Minister for the Environment, one of nine FLP ministers, in the multiparty Cabinet of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase... |
1996 – 1999 |
| 8. | Amraiya Naidu | 1999 – 2003 |
| 9. | Isikia Savua Isikia Savua Isikia Rabici Savua was a senior Fijian diplomat, who had a distinguished career in the Military and police forces before taking up his last post as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations on 4 March 2003.- Career :Savua spent 18 years in the Fijian army, which he joined on... |
2003 – 2008 |
| 10. | Berenado Vunibobo Berenado Vunibobo Berenado Vunibobo was Fiji's permanent representative to the United Nations from 1976–1980 and from 2008–2010, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Civil Aviation 1997-1998. During his second term, he represented the unelected Fiji government led by Commodore Voreqe... |
2008 – 2010 |
| 11. | Peter Thomson Peter Thomson (diplomat) Peter Thomson, born in Suva in 1948, is a Fiji Islander diplomat of Scottish descent, and Fiji's current Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He also has Australian and New Zealand citizenship.... |
2010 – present |
Recent voting record
Fiji voted in favour of- Resolution 65/454 (2010), on a follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (adopted 104 to 22)
- Resolution 65/202 (2010), on the right of the Palestinian peoplePalestinian peopleThe Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
to self-determination (adopted by 177 to 6) - Resolution 65/225 (2010), on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaHuman rights in North KoreaThe human rights record of North Korea is extremely hard to fully assess due to the secretive and closed nature of the country. The North Korean government makes it very difficult for foreigners to enter the country and strictly monitors their activities when they do...
(adopted by 106 to 20) - Resolution 65/L.78 (2011), on a review of the Human Rights CouncilUnited Nations Human Rights CouncilThe United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly...
(adopted 154 to 4)
Fiji abstained from voting on
- Resolution 65/456/Add.3 (2010), on the situation of human rights in MyanmarHuman rights in MyanmarMembers of the United Nations and major international human rights organisations have issued repeated and consistent reports of widespread and systematic human rights violations in Burma...
(adopted by 85 to 26) - Resolution 65/L.53 (2010), on a moratorium on the use of the death penaltyUN moratorium on the death penaltyThe UN moratorium on the death penalty were two proposals by Italy and Chile supported by several countries and NGOs before the General Assembly of the United Nations that called for general suspension of capital punishment throughout the world...
(adopted by 109 to 41) - Resolution 65/226 (2010), on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (adopted by 78 to 45)
Fiji voted against
- Resolution 65/224 (2010), on combating defamation of religions (adopted by 79 to 67)
External links
- Official website of the Fiji Mission to the United Nations
- Ambassador Amraiya Naidu's address to the 56th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 16 November 2001
- Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's address to the 57th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 19 September 2002
- Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's address to the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 24 September 2004
- Ambassador Isikia Savua's address to the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 22 September 2005
- Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Kaliopate Tavola's address to the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly, 26 September 2006
- Prime Minister Voreqe Bainamarama's address to the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, 28 September 2007
- Prime Minister Voreqe Bainamarama's address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, 26 September 2008
- Prime Minister Voreqe Bainamarama's address to the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 26 September 2009
- Prime Minister Voreqe Bainamarama's address to the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 27 September 2010
- Prime Minister Voreqe Bainamarama's address to the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 23 September 2011