The Minister for Defence and National Security, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola today held high level meetings at the United Nations Head Quarters in New York to discuss Fiji’s peacekeeping agendas.
The Minister met H.E. Jean- Pierre Lacroix, the Under Secretary General (USG) of the Department of Peacekeeping Office, H.E. Tave-Brook Zerihoun the Assistant Secretary General (ASG) of the Department of Political Affairs and H.E. Alexandra Zuev the Assistant Secretary General (ASG) of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI).
Fiji has been actively involved in peacekeeping since 1978. Minister Kubuabola assured the UN Under-Secretary Generals (USG) that Fiji remains committed to world peace by providing troops and equipment and capabilities such as the Bushmasters for service in global hotspots around the world.
The Minister requested if the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations could consider increasing Fiji’s troop numbers in UNDOF (Syria), and UNIFIL (Lebanon) given the new Bushmaster vehicle capabilities provided by Fiji.
Discussions also included Fiji’s consideration for future increases in Police and Corrections participation in UN missions in South Sudan and UNMID (Darfur).
During the high level meetings with the three UN USGs, the Minister made a commitment for the deployment of the Fiji’s Formed Police Unit to any UN Mission from 2018-2019, and this included Correctional officers.
The assurance and basis of Fiji’s commitment was in line with its peacekeeping pledges at the UN. Meanwhile, the UN USGs spoke highly and commended the Fijian troops deployed to mission areas.
The Minister travels to Rome next, to call on the Director General of the Multi-National Force and Observer Mission where he will discuss critical issues pertaining to Fiji’s troops in the Sinai Peninsula.