YouSaid · the spoken record

Josaia V. Bainimarama

lines on the record: 121
first: 2007-09-24
most recent: 2013-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Let me reiterate our full support and cooperation with President Ashe and all members with a view to advancing the objectives of the United Nations and the aspirations of the global community.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“While some disconnect exists between what is contained in international instruments and what is or is not implemented, we need a commitment to clear steps to turn words into actions in order to facilitate the sustainable management of ocean resources and make equitable the share of benefits from their utilization. Fiji hosted the inaugural Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) last month. Its formation makes the PIDF the only South-South organization in the Pacific region that provides for a multi-stakeholder platform where Governments, the private sector and civil society can discuss what we Pacific Islanders need to do to achieve sustainable development. We look forward to a productive sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Fiji has achieved 95 per cebt mobile coverage, including 3G; concluded one of the region’s first open auctions for the 4G spectrum; and is implementing a number of innovative initiatives to increase affordable access and improve services, including in the most remote parts of our country. The International Telecommunication Union, in its annual review of more than 150 countries’ delivery of ICT infrastructure and services to their populations, gave special recognition to Fiji as a developing country. Fiji tied for the third largest improvement of any country and is ranked fourth globally in percentage terms, having improved by 14 per cent. As the first country to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Fiji has kept its oceanic obligations at the core of its foreign policy.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The United Nations efforts to eradicate colonialism must forge ahead within the context of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, of which Fiji is a member. Through the Pacific regional body known as the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Fiji works together with other members of the Fourth Committee to accelerate the process of decolonization. In reforming and developing its information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, Fiji has adopted a comprehensive approach by combining a national framework for ICT development with effective and pragmatic policies and initiatives to deliver results directly to the Fijian people. That approach is bearing fruit.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The convening of the third International Conference for Sustainable Development of SIDS in 2014 will be critical to addressing, in a very specific and concrete manner, the many challenges faced by SIDS. It is an opportunity for the international community to renew its commitment to the implementation of the decisions and agreements pertaining to SIDS. As the international community discusses the post-2015 development landscape, including a successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action, we must ensure that a new model accounts for and addresses the risks we face. This is particularly relevant for SIDS, where hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses occur as a result of so-called natural disasters every year. Protecting development gains and investing in disaster resilience is vital to sustainable development.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I urge us all to work together in the United Nations to provide such concrete policy guidance, particularly as we see peacekeeping missions evolve into multidimensional and complex missions that differ greatly from early United Nations peacekeeping missions. As a Pacific island nation, Fiji reaffirms its support for the efforts of small island developing States (SIDS) to achieve sustainable development. Not only are SIDS acutely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification and the increased frequency of extreme weather events, but for some of us the threat is to our very existence. Our response to the plight of those most at risk must therefore be characterized by a requisite sense of urgency.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Fiji also sees police peacekeeping and contributions in the corrections and justice sector as important in building local State institutions that can be run by local authorities once peacekeeping missions end, and we are building on our many existing commitments in that regard in Liberia, Darfur and South Sudan. It is up to us in the General Assembly to ensure that all support possible is given to troop- and police-contributing countries serving on the ground, including through clear and appropriate policy guidance. For the good of the countries concerned, we must not abdicate that responsibility.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It is a source of great pride that, for a nation of our size, we are able to make a meaningful and significant contribution. For the past three decades, we have always responded to the call of the United Nations to serve, including in the most difficult circumstances around the world. While we fully recognize the risks involved, Fiji’s confidence in its peacekeepers prompted us to provide troops to the Golan Heights this year to assist the United Nations in a time of need. The many years of service of Fijian troops in the Middle East region, particularly in Lebanon, Iraq and Sinai, are an asset that our troops take with them to that mission.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“If the international community and national Governments seriously commit to an agenda for meaningful transformation at the structural, institutional and normative levels, the post-2015 development agenda has the potential of achieving a paradigm shift in global conditions. Fiji’s commitment to being a good global citizen is manifested through our ongoing engagement with the United Nations and its associated agencies and secretariats. Our decision to take on the mantle of chairing the Group of 77 and China for the year 2013 was informed by the fact that Fiji embraces its rights as an equal Member of the United Nations and that we must therefore also carry all the due responsibilities expected of us within this great family of nations. Fiji’s commitment to United Nations peacekeeping remains unwavering.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Throughout the course of this year, the Group of 77 and China has emphasized that the road map towards a post- 2015 development agenda needs to address the implementation gaps of the Millennium Development Goals, with poverty eradication remaining an overarching goal. The new development agenda must be universal, applicable and relevant to all Member States. Let me also stress that the new development agenda should be centred on economic development that supports both social inclusion and environmental sustainability. Our common desire for a transformative global development agenda beyond 2015 can best be achieved through collective efforts and an enhanced global partnership. Such efforts must place the development and well-being of people at its core.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The theme set by the President to guide the general debate at this sixty-eighth session, which is “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage,” is most fitting for the juncture at which the United Nations stands. In the midst of increasing poverty and underdevelopment and during an era of unprecedented wealth accumulation and technological advances, the rift that divides the rich and the poor zones of the world ever widens. We must therefore not lose focus on one imperative of our time: equality among nations, big and small, is central to the relevance, credibility and even survival of this global Organization. In that regard, we are encouraged by the progress made thus far in the General Assembly towards expeditiously launching the follow-up mechanisms agreed at the Rio+20 Conference in 2012.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Our isolation led us to seek out new relationships, which have proven fruitful. Now, our standing in the world has never been stronger. A key principle that has guided Fiji’s political development and foreign policy and is soundly grounded in the Charter of the United Nations is that we determine our own destinies as sovereign States. At the same time, we recognize the necessity of collaborating with all Member States of the United Nations with the aim of supporting sustainable world peace, substantive justice, dignity and respect for all. It is that spirit of collaboration that has inspired us to go beyond parochial interests and reach out to help others. That spirit enjoins us to be loyal to common ideals, goals, values and principles. They remain our guiding beacons as we navigate our way in this millennium.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Australia has the Eureka Stockade, and Britain has had a bloody history as it struggled to establish a constitutional monarchy. We Fijians have also had our share of turbulence. Regrettably and to our great disappointment, some of our oldest friends had no faith in us. They abandoned us and sought to punish us with sanctions. We sought their assistance and understanding, but they turned their backs on us. They chose to support a form of democracy, governance and justice in Fiji that they would never have accepted for themselves. We hope that they see now that we were true to our word. All nations struggle over time to overcome their unique challenges, to correct historic sins and to be worthy of the principles on which they were founded. We in Fiji are no different.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Unlike in the past, we are building a credible and fair system that will guide that process. Four political parties have registered thus far under the new laws, which create transparency and accountability, and close to 540,000 Fijians — out of an estimated 620,000 eligible voters — have registered for the 2014 election. Many modern, stable democracies have gone through their own turbulent periods. Some have gone through decades of instability and bloodshed, while others have had a single defining moment. Those events changed the course of history. They turned their countries from bastions of elitism and oppression into nations of freedom, equality and true democracy. The United States has its Bunker Hill and Civil War. France has the storming of the Bastille and the French revolution.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Surely, such a basic principle as that deserves the full support of all nations that would never accept any less for their own people. So we have set out to make a change for the good, a permanent change that would set the nation on a straight course and allow Fiji to finally reach the potential it had when we so enthusiastically embraced our independence. It has been a long journey, and we have faced numerous challenges along the way. But it is with great pleasure and deep honour that I stand here today and say: our national compass has finally been reset. Under the new Constitution, we are heading towards Fiji’s first genuinely democratic elections by September 2014 and a much brighter future as one nation. With every month that passes, we are building the foundations of our new parliamentary democracy.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The very idea of a just and equal society, of an accountable Government and of loyalty to the nation State was being eroded from within. There were too many elites who thought the best way to entrench their own privileges was to sow the seeds of division and undermine our independent institutions. The removals of the Government in 1987 and 2000 were the most radical expressions of that dysfunction. As a result, tens of thousands of Fijians suffered, and many made the decision to leave their home forever — to leave Fiji. As I have said before, that is one of the most shameful episodes of our history, and I am determined that it must never, ever happen again. We must never allow a fellow citizen to be second class or to be less than an equal of his neighbour.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It recognizes the indigenous peoples of Fiji and their customary practices, protects the rights of the predominantly indigenous landowners and those of their tenants, demands accountability and transparency from Government officials, builds strong and independent institutions and replaces our old weighted electoral system with one based on the principle of one person, one vote, one value. That historic achievement is the culmination of a path that Fiji embarked on in 2007 to establish a modern and stable society that can be a proud and responsible part of the global community. For years we struggled to be a nation under a system that created different classes of citizens and in which the votes of some Fijians counted more than others. How could we be one nation when our fundamental law said that we were not one people?”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Forty- three years and three Constitutions later, we finally have a Constitution that is worthy of the Fijian people. It is a Constitution that meets the test of a genuine democracy, that upholds the legal and moral basis of a common and equal citizenry without denying anyone’s individuality or culture. The 2013 Fijian Constitution enshrines principles that are at the heart of all the world’s great liberal democracies: an independent judiciary, a secular State and a wide range of civil, political and socioeconomic rights.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“At the outset, I wish to congratulate President Ashe on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session and express my confidence that under his able and wise guidance, the Assembly will successfully accomplish its many tasks. I would also like to pay tribute to the tireless efforts of last year’s President, His Excellency Mr. Vuk Jeremi., and extend my appreciation for the effectiveness with which he directed the work of the Assembly at the previous session. Fiji reached a pivotal moment in its history earlier this month, when His Excellency the President of the Republic of Fiji promulgated the nation’s new Constitution. This Constitution introduces the first genuine democracy that Fiji will enjoy since we gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1970.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In this regard, we have taken great heart from recent assurances of support from many of our bilateral and multilateral friends, not least of which is the United Nations. Once again, I offer my congratulations to the President on his election and my best wishes for a productive sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We also recognize our national responsibility at all times to ensure that the nation’s overall peace, well-being and sustainable economic development prevail over divisive factional interests. The Fijian nation will prevail, and we have every confidence that our beloved country has the homegrown ability to pull itself up by its own bootstraps. In this respect, I am happy to inform this gathering that electronic registration of voters for the national elections is scheduled to commence in January next year. We trust that our trading and development partners, friends old and new, will give us the understanding, the space and the assistance we need to ensure that true and sustainable democracy can take root in Fiji.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The road map clearly states that in the process the new Fijian constitution must do away with racial categorization and discrimination so that for the first time in Fiji’s history, Fijians will go to elections in 2014 on the basis of common and equal suffrage. That will be real progress. It will undo decades of undemocratic laws and policies inherited from our colonial past and entrenched in past Constitutions that have impeded our nation’s progress. 11-51197 4 This is a determined move to create a society based on substantive equality and justice and respect for the dignity of all Fijians. As we enter this formative two-year period in Fiji’s history, we recognize that inclusiveness will be an essential part of the process in the formulation of the new constitution.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In this regard, we consider the 2012 Rio de Janeiro United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to be critical to protecting that economy. Since I last addressed the General Assembly (see A/65/PV.19), Fijians have benefited from the nation’s Strategic Framework for Change. The Framework set in place the road map that will take Fiji to the holding of national elections by September 2014. Under the provisions of the road map, from September next year until 2013 our nation must turn its attention to the development of a new constitution premised along the laudable principles set out in the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Fiji has invested much time and many resources in the responsible consideration of seabed mining, and thus welcomes the Advisory Opinion of the Seabed Disputes Chamber on the responsibilities and obligations of States parties with regard to seabed mining. We also welcome the decision by the Council of the International Seabed Authority to approve the application by Tonga and Nauru for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the mid-east Pacific Ocean. We see the Pacific small island developing States as legitimate participants in this oceanic resource. The Pacific Ocean is the mainstay of our country’s livelihood, our food security and our economy. Fiji views the blue economy as an essential element of the green economy.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Fiji hopes that the presidential statement adopted by the Council in July (S/PRST/2011/15*) at the end of the open debate on the security implications of climate change will enable the Council to look further into the plight of those countries that are most at risk of losing their territory to climate change. As the first signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Fiji has kept its oceanic obligations at the core of its foreign policy. With the increasing interest in seabed mining, and in order to avoid a race to the bottom by countries wishing to exploit the untapped mineral resources on the ocean floor, it is imperative that the International Seabed Authority remain vigilant in safeguarding the environmental integrity of the world’s seabeds.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank them for their cooperation, assistance and collaboration. As a small island developing State (SIDS) vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, Fiji has a strong desire to see positive and concrete outcomes achieved at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Durban later this year. We hold firm to the hope of a successful outcome from the UNFCCC negotiations. However, the urgency of the situation for many small island and low-lying coastal States, and the real threat posed by sea-level rise, prompted the Pacific SIDS to draw the attention of the Security Council to the security implications of climate change.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We welcome the high-level commitment of the international community to address this crisis and the successful completion of the High-level Meeting on NCDs this week. The Fijian Government has taken key actions to address NCD issues, including being the first country to sign and ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It is also one of the first countries to pilot a salt-reduction programme. The economic reforms undertaken by the Fijian Government have produced positive mid-term results. Last month, we were heartened to learn that Fiji’s economic standing was assessed at a higher level by the credit-rating agency Standard and Poor’s. This improved rating is also attributable to the strong support of all development partners, including the private sector, which have worked closely with the Fijian Government.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Fiji participated in and was represented by our Head of State, His Excellency Ratu 3 11-51197 Epeli Nailatikau, at the HIV/AIDS High-level Meeting that was held in this Hall in August. In addition to the HIV/AIDS Decree, Fiji this year passed the Mental Health Decree, based on World Health Organization guidelines on best practice for mental patients, and the Child Welfare Decree, which creates a system that requires the mandatory reporting of child abuse by doctors, police officers and lawyers to the Ministry of Social Welfare. Fiji is determined to provide to all Fijians enlightened and progressive laws on health care, access to health services and justice. A large percentage of Fiji’s population is at risk of contracting a non-communicable disease (NCDs), or lifestyle disease, including cardiovascular or cancerous diseases.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Its regime of restraining orders is intended to deter perpetrators of family violence from inflicting further violence, while allowing families to remain together in peace. The Decree recognizes the difficulty experienced by women and children in gaining access to the justice system because of family, community, cultural and attitudinal barriers. In order to address the MDG HIV/AIDS target, the Fijian Government enacted a new law this year that, among other things, safeguards the privacy and rights of persons infected or affected by HIV. The HIV/AIDS Decree is based on the United Nations international guidelines on HIV/AIDS and on the Declaration of Commitment to a human rights-based approach to dealing with the epidemic. The Decree has been acknowledged as one of the most progressive HIV laws in the world.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Since the reform of Fiji’s laws to bring them into line with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, further progress has been achieved. We are experiencing increased participation by women in local decision-making bodies, thereby empowering rural women, increasing the enrolment of women and girls in tertiary education, gender mainstreaming within the Government system and increasing the provision of welfare assistance to the marginalized, including single mothers. The Domestic Violence Decree, which came into effect last year, is now being effectively implemented by the law enforcement agencies in conjunction with civil society groups.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In this regard, we would welcome the establishment of arrangements for closer cooperation and information-sharing between the United Nations Secretariat and the MSG secretariat. We also express our gratitude to the Government of France for its cooperation and assistance to this end. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) continue to inspire our economic development efforts. In Fiji, we have concentrated our focus on national infrastructure development under our road map for democracy and sustainable socio-economic development. Under the road map, priority has been given to rural electrification expansion, access to clean water and to national road development. This focus is with a view to creating the bedrock required for sustainable economic growth.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Fiji is currently the Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), whose membership includes Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front of New Caledonia. This year, the MSG was pleased to admit Indonesia and Timor-Leste to observer status. Fiji wishes to commend the work of our brother MSG missions at the United Nations in bringing Melanesian concerns to the attention of the United Nations Special Political and Decolonization Committee. Through its membership of the Decolonization Committee, Fiji will continue to call for the Committee to conduct effective monitoring and assessment of the progress of New Caledonia’s Nouméa Accord.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“With the planned withdrawal of the United States forces from Iraq this year, the United Nations has seen fit to increase the size of its UNAMI guard unit and, after due process, Fiji was selected to provide the extra personnel. We thank the United Nations for the confidence it has shown in our servicemen and servicewomen. In addition, Fijian servicemen and servicewomen are currently stationed in peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, Abyei, Darfur, Liberia and Timor-Leste. I pause here to profess my country’s recognition and respect for the selfless service given by United Nations peacekeepers in the troubled regions of our world, and to pay tribute to those of them who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In 2006, Fiji voted in favour of the preparation of a robust arms trade treaty (resolution 61/89), and we commend all those who have shown commitment to preparing that treaty for signature in 2012. Fiji’s commitment to the Charter of the United Nations remains steadfast. Our tradition of service in the Blue Helmets of United Nations peacekeeping began in 1978 in Lebanon with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, in which the Fijian battalion served for 24 years. In 1982 when the multinational force and observers were deployed as peacekeepers in Sinai, a Fijian battalion was among them and has remained there to this day. In Iraq, the guard unit of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has been manned by Fijians since 2004.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Fiji’s guiding document, the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, has given our nation the task of enhancing Fiji’s international relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally. In pursuit of this task, since the beginning of last year Fiji has formalized diplomatic relations with 37 countries, bringing to a total of 114 the number of countries with which Fiji has formal diplomatic relations. Fiji is firmly on the 11-51197 2 path of formalizing our diplomatic relations with all States Members of the United Nations. Fiji remains steadfastly committed to the work of the United Nations in safeguarding world peace, including all international counter-terrorism efforts.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We have pledged to play our full part in the Movement’s activities, particularly in the area of South-South cooperation and sustainable development. These positive developments complement the Fijian Government’s Look North Policy and our intention to expand relations with non-traditional partners. We believe that such an expansion of outlook is essential to our national development and our full exercise of Fiji’s global rights and responsibilities. Here at the United Nations, we are active members of the Asia- Pacific Group and, along with our fellow Pacific small island developing States, we greatly appreciate the support given to us by members of that regional group.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I bring warm greetings to all from the Government and people of Fiji. May I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Al-Nasser on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session and pay tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Joseph Deiss. This year, it was my honour to open new missions in Indonesia and South Africa. The Fiji High Commission in Pretoria is our first diplomatic mission on the continent of Africa, and we see it as a gateway to that great continent. Our new embassy in Jakarta is intended to strengthen our warm, fraternal relations with Indonesia. In the same spirit, I journey next week to Brazil to open Fiji’s first embassy on the South American continent. In May this year Fiji had the privilege of being admitted to membership of the Non-Aligned Movement.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In the true spirit of international cooperation, we must at all times, as sovereign States in our community of nations, develop and maintain relationships based on respect, dignity and equality. We must also decide on issues and matters before this august Assembly based on merit, justice and international law. Once again, I congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election and offer my best wishes for a productive sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Within this context, one of the great challenges for Pacific small island developing States is to be effective in conserving the Pacific Ocean’s fish stocks. They are critical to our livelihoods, our economies. Countries that overexploit these fish stocks must be informed that the practice is unsustainable. As owners, investors and harvesters, we should follow and adhere to international law and chart a path to sustain stocks for the benefit of all. What I say today is that we must recognize that meaningful dialogue is essential — within our respective countries, within our respective regions and in the world as a whole. Seeking to achieve resolutions and solutions through dialogue is the way forward.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We therefore appreciate the Secretary-General’s initiative in this respect and urge him to carefully consider the report and provide impetus at the global level through the United Nations. Improved technology and e-access will provide that trajectory in meeting the MDGs and improving the lives of all our peoples. As one of the founding signatories of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Fiji has kept its oceanic obligations at the core of its foreign policy. Fiji therefore follows, and also expects fellow Member States to adhere to, the legal regime of the exclusive economic zone that encompasses sovereign rights. Since it is the Year of Biodiversity, we call on the International Seabed Authority to be vigilant in safeguarding the environmental integrity of the world’s seabed.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Through the Pacific small island developing States, Fiji pledges to assist in securing increased representation of the Pacific island countries in the United Nations system. The aim is to also increase employment of Pacific Island nationals within the United Nations Secretariat and its affiliated bodies. Here, I should add that Fiji is playing a prominent role in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). I note that only a few days ago the Secretary- General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, accepted a report on digitalization, including accessibility to broadband. In this area Fiji has also embarked on its own initiative for accessibility to and improvement in, telecommunications and information technology. This includes the process of finalizing a national policy on broadband and spectrum management.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Going forward, we and our development partners must examine where gains have been made and where efforts have been unsuccessful and identify country-specific priorities in order to achieve the MDGs. 23 10-55122 The threat of climate change, particularly sea- level rise, continues to hang over us all. While some of us are more vulnerable than others, we must work in concert as a responsible international family to mitigate the adverse effects of this global phenomenon. In this context, I reiterate the common call of the small island developing States: that the promised fast-track funding from the international community to finance climate change adaptation and mitigation measures be delivered without delay.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Reforms in our laws and outlook have helped us comply with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. They also support our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). I would like to reaffirm the critical points made at last week’s MDG Summit and at the high-level review of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. I make these points as one of the United Nations Members classified as a small island developing State. In spite of their considerable domestic efforts in cooperation with the international community, the small island developing States (SIDS) have had very mixed results in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“These changes include the Crimes Decree, which eliminated the archaic rules in respect of rape trials. We have implemented for the first time a comprehensive law against domestic violence to comply with our international obligation to protect the welfare of women and children. We now have child welfare laws which require the reporting of violence against children or suspicion of abuse of minors. These and other new laws assist in our compliance with the Rome Statute by recognizing crimes against humanity and incorporating them into our domestic laws. Fiji was also present in June at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute held in Uganda and is of course supportive of the work of the International Criminal Court.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It welcomes the recent resumption of direct negotiations between the leaders of Israel and Palestine and hopes for a successful outcome. Fiji is an active member of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee). Following our participation in the ministerial mission of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to New Caledonia this year, Fiji sponsored the Fourth Committee’s 2010 resolution on New Caledonia. We urge all concerned parties to accelerate the progress of the provisions of the Nouméa Accord. Over the past year, the Fiji Government has implemented a number of legal changes that have not only modernized our laws and brought about gender and social parity, but have also ensured compliance with international conventions.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“On the subject of peace and security, Fiji is proud to have been among the Member States that in 2006 voted in favour of preparations for a robust and legally binding arms trade treaty in 2012. We remain committed to the work of the United Nations to curb the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Fiji has ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions and regards this instrument as a welcome development for humanitarianism and international disarmament. It also remains fully committed to international efforts against terrorism. With respect to resolving the world’s territorial and sovereignty disputes, Fiji stands firm with all international efforts aimed at peaceful resolution through a process of genuine dialogue.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“This commitment to be a good global citizen is further expressed through Fiji’s ongoing engagement with the United Nations and its associated agencies and secretariats. There is no better example of this engagement than Fiji’s long-term contribution to the cause of United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Fijian servicemen and women currently serve in peacekeeping missions in Iraq, southern Sudan, Liberia, Darfur and Timor-Leste. I offer my country’s tribute to the selfless service given by United Nations peacekeepers and peacebuilders, past and present, in the troubled regions of our world. We pay special tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to the cause of peacekeeping.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“This 10-55122 22 approach will result in the manifestation of a fairer and more just system for all Fiji’s citizens. This significant shift in foreign policy direction heralds Fiji’s globalization and maturity and demonstrates Fiji’s intention to become a good and engaged global citizen. Accordingly, over the past year Fiji has formalized diplomatic relations with many countries with which no ties previously existed. In addition, Fiji has sought membership of the Non-Aligned Movement. The broadening of our engagement with the rest of the world was given further impetus in Abu Dhabi in June, when, at the Arab League’s invitation, a summit was held between the Pacific small island developing States and the member countries of the League which was hosted by the United Arab Emirates.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Our new foreign policy direction stems from the philosophical basis that, while we determine our own destinies as sovereign States, we must at the same time work in collaboration with all Member States towards sustainable world peace, substantive justice, dignity and respect for all. However, we cannot achieve these objectives or actually implement these noble principles if we simply rely on predetermined political influences or predetermined alignments. We must be prepared to expand the range of our international relationships and not simply subscribe to bloc voting. We must assess and decide each issue on its merits. We must decide each matter based on equality, substantive justice and international law. We must keep an open mind.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I extend to you, Sir, and to this august Assembly warm greetings from the Government and people of Fiji. May I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly’s sixty-fifth session and to pay tribute to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Treki. As I highlighted last year in my address (see A/64/PV.10), Fiji and her people, through the Strategic Framework for Change, have embarked on a path of structural reform to modernize and liberalize our economy in line with today’s global environment. As part of this agenda, the Fiji Government has revamped its foreign policy.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)