Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has told the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki‑Moon that he has faithfully delivered his promise made to the UN General Assembly of holding a free and fair elections.
Bainimarama told Ban Ki‑Moon in New York earlier today that the election process and results were observed and endorsed by a 92 member multinational observer group led by Australia, Indonesia and India.
Bainimarama said our elections was conducted in accordance with the 2013 constitution, whose central message embraces all Fijians as equal citizens, no longer divided by racial electoral rolls and protected by extensive portfolio of human rights.
He told the UN Secretary General that the observer group reported that the election was conducted in a fair, transparent and democratic manner and is representative of the voice of the people of Fiji on their choice of the government.
Bainimarama said his statement to the General Assembly tomorrow will affirm his government's intention to be inclusive, protecting and promoting the rights and aspirations of all Fijians regardless of race, religion, socio-economic background or religion location.
Bainimarama also told Ban Ki-Moon that UN peacekeeping will continue to be at the core of Fiji’s foreign policy, with a view to Fiji playing its part to the best of its ability in efforts to secure global peace and security.
He also conveyed special thanks to the UN Department of Safety and Security and their negotiating team for the safe release of Fijian peacekeepers.
Bainimarama stressed that Fiji will be of service to United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for as long as there is UN requirement for the Mission.
He said with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force right sizing currently underway, it is his firm understanding from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations that there will be no reduction of Fiji’s current personnel numbers of 434.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Peter Thomson were also part of the meeting with Ban Ki‑Moon.
Bainimarama will speak at the UN General Assembly early tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Airways staff had a surprise for Bainimarama when he boarded the flight from Nadi to the US.
They congratulated him for winning the elections and brought out a special cake for him to cut.
Bainimarama and his wife, Mary also met the staff of the Office of the Permanent Representative to the UN in New York.
Also present were Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Peter Thomson and Fiji's Ambassador at Large, Ioane Naivalurua.
