No exclusion from peacekeeping missions: Leweni

The government is confident the United Nations (UN) will not stop using soldiers from Fiji for peacekeeping duties.

As at the end of March, Fiji was contributing 282 soldiers and police officers to UN peacekeeping missions.

Military Spokesperson Major Neumi Leweni said the UN has set a precedent in not stopping the participation from countries such as Pakistan and Zimbabwe, so Fiji will not be excluded from peacekeeping missions.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ratu Epeli Ganulai will attend a United Nations conference on security governance in Tonga.

The conference which starts tomorrow will look at security challenges in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.