Fiji–France relations
Encyclopedia
Fiji–France relations refer to bilateral relations between France
and Fiji
. France has an embassy in Suva
, but Fiji has no diplomatic representation in France. Relations are currently strained, due to France's condemnation of the coup d'état in Fiji in December 2006
.
Previously, relations had primarily been centred on military cooperation, with France assisting Fiji in surveilling its maritime zone, and on development aid. French military assistance was suspended after the coup.
that set out the maritime boundary
between Fiji and New Caledonia
and the maritime boundary between Fiji and Wallis and Futuna
.
In 2000, the French Government condemned the 2000 Fijian coup d'état.
taking part in efforts to locate several fishermen lost at sea.
French aid to Fiji includes the providing of equipment for poor and isolated areas.
France promotes French culture and the French language
by encouraging the teaching of French in schools and at the University of the South Pacific
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Fiji
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...
. France has an embassy in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, but Fiji has no diplomatic representation in France. Relations are currently strained, due to France's condemnation of the coup d'état 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....
.
Previously, relations had primarily been centred on military cooperation, with France assisting Fiji in surveilling its maritime zone, and on development aid. French military assistance was suspended after the coup.
History
In 1983, Fiji and France signed a treatyFiji–France Maritime Delimitation Agreement
The Fiji–France Maritime Delimitation Agreement is a 1983 treaty between France and Fiji which establishes the maritime boundary between Fiji and the French territory of New Caledonia and the boundary between Fiji and the French territory of Wallis and Futuna....
that set out the maritime boundary
Maritime boundary
Maritime boundary is a conceptual means of division of the water surface of the planet into maritime areas that are defined through surrounding physical geography or by human geography. As such it usually includes areas of exclusive national rights over the mineral and biological resources,...
between Fiji and New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
and the maritime boundary between Fiji and Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands , is a Polynesian French island territory in the South Pacific between Tuvalu to the northwest, Rotuma of Fiji to the west, the main part of Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast,...
.
In 2000, the French Government condemned the 2000 Fijian coup d'état.
French assistance
In 2004, France was the first foreign state to offer assistance to Fiji, sending naval aircraft from the nearby islands of New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
taking part in efforts to locate several fishermen lost at sea.
French aid to Fiji includes the providing of equipment for poor and isolated areas.
France promotes French culture and the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
by encouraging the teaching of French in schools and at the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
.