Rabuka pledges Fiji’s full support to incoming PIF Chair

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has pledged Fiji's full support to the incoming Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown to maintain a strong voice and action on issues vital to our Pacific family.

While meeting his counterpart, Rabuka says Fiji places great importance on its relations with the Cook Islands as Pacific Island Developing States and stewards of large maritime spaces.

He says the bilateral relations between the two island nations have grown over the years through collective participation and advocacy in regional and international forums.

Rabuka also thanked his Cook Islands counterpart for his leadership in representing the Forum Chair to Japan to meet with the Prime Minister of Japan in February to discuss the issue of “Fukushima Discharge of Nuclear Waste” into the Pacific Ocean.

On regional issues, the Prime Minister thanked Brown for his leadership and support during Fiji’s chairmanship of the Pacific Islands Forum.

He says with the unity of our Micronesian brothers and sisters intact, our political commitment to reform the Forum will now gain full steam with Kiribati’s return and subsequent signing of the Suva Agreement later this week.

Brown conveyed his sincere gratitude to Rabuka for the warm welcome they received upon arrival, saying they are looking forward to a productive Forum Special Leaders Meeting.

He also congratulated Rabuka for Fiji's strong and decisive leadership of the Forum, adding that the Cook Islands will work towards further advancing the interests of the Forum.