Pacific Leaders Must Make New Friends

Pacific Leaders Must Make New Friends - PM

News in brief:

(THURSDAY 22ND JULY, 2010 No:1091/ MOI) PACIFIC LEADERS MUST MAKE NEW FRIENDS - PM

\The Pacific island states must look outside the box of traditional friends and make new ones to boost investments and trade within the region.

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama made the comments while addressing leaders at the Engaging with the Pacific meeting at Natadola Intercontinental Hotel this morning.

“The recent invitation to Abu Dhabi by the Arab League and the interest from that region to collaborate with the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) in political issues is a good step.

“This is equally important in areas of investment and trade partnerships as it demonstrates the value in seeking new relationships without fore going existing ones,” he added.

He also said that Fiji recently decided to join the Non-aligned Movement or NAM.

“ We believe joining NAM will give us the ability to independently state our position and not dictated by metropolitan powers,” PM said.

“It will also give us powers to withheld information and engender collaboration with countries that we traditionally have not had access to.”

He said that some matters and challenges cannot be resolved by simply relying of traditional spheres of influence which Pacific states belong to that is dictated by our colonial past.

Caption: Leaders take a pose with Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama at the Intercontinental Golf & Spa Resort lawn.

For more information on Government events and decisions log onto the official Government portal www.fiji.gov.fj

ENDS

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