A national Peacekeeping Strategy that will define Fiji’s security missions is in the works.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua said the document would redefine the purpose, scope and nature of Fiji’s peacekeeping role.
“It will establish clear criteria for the selection of missions,” he said.
“It will articulate what success looks like, not just in military terms but in moral and diplomatic terms.
“It will ensure that training is standardised and that all personnel are equipped with the tools and the knowledge they need before deployment. It will also include provisions for post-service care, family support, and reintegration.”
He said the document would also cover fundamental questions such as when does peacekeeping serve Fiji’s interest and when does it impose more burden than benefit.
“Fiji has not only contributed to global missions, but we have also played a leadership role in our region.
“Through RAMSI, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, Fiji helped rebuild the security and institutional frameworks of a sister Pacific state. We did so with respect, with cultural awareness, and with the belief that Pacific solutions must be crafted by Pacific hands.
“RAMSI stands as a testament to what is possible when nations commit to the dignity of others. It remains a model of how peacekeeping and peace-building can be fused together. It also reminds us that our region is not immune to instability.
“Our peacekeeping strategy must also reflect this reality.”
He added it was important that Fiji adapted its contributions to match the world as it is and as it was.
“That is the purpose of the National Peacekeeping Strategy. It will not lessen our reputation. It will strengthen it. It will not reduce our presence. It will enhance our purpose.”