No clear response from UN

Has a decision been made by the United Nations that the Fiji military will not be allowed to participate in future new UN peacekeeping missions?

That is the question Prime Minister and Army Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama asked a few officials when he attended the UN General Assembly in New York, however, there was no clear response from the officials.

Commodore Bainimarama said in his address that Fiji is disappointed by what appears to be a unilateral decision on the part of the UN to deter Fiji from any new peacekeeping operations.

Bainimarama said to this day, Fiji has not been able to receive a clear and satisfactory reply on this matter from the UN.

He went on to say that some countries are using their extensive diplomatic and financial resources to deny Fiji to participate in new peacekeeping operations.

No official statements have been released by the UN.

The only statement issued was by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd a few months ago that Fiji will no longer be part of the UN peacekeeping missions.

At the time it was reported that no such decision was made.

The UN office is expected to comment to Fijivillage soon.

Meanwhile, RFMF's Land Force Commander Colonel Pita Driti confirmed that Fiji continues to be part of the UN missions in Iraq and Sudan.

He also confirmed that we have more than 300 soldiers in Sinai under the Multi-National Forces and Observers mission.

This is not a UN mission but the MFO which is sponsored by the United States of America.