Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fiji interim PM thanks UN for rebuffing Commonwealth on peacekeeping missions

Posted at 02:10 on 05 April, 2007 UTC

Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has thanked the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon, for having the wisdom to look at the greater needs of the UN community rather than the narrow minded interests of a few.

The Daily Post newspaper says Commodore Bainimarama was responding to reports that Mr Ban had rebuffed the Commonwealth secretary general Don McKinnon’s request to stop using Fiji soldiers on its peacekeeping missions.

Commodore Bainimarama said the UN had recognized that Fiji soldiers were a professional outfit worthy of the recognition and acclaim they had received all over the world as among the best peacekeepers.

Commodore Bainimarama Fiji soldiers on peacekeeping missions were a significant source of revenue and income for their families and communities in the country.

He said attempts to stop them in peacekeeping were also an attempt to hurt the common people of the country.

Commodore Bainimarama said the United States, Australia and New Zealand have done very little to help Fiji and he urged the international community to assist the country in its evolution towards a brighter and better future.