PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the United Nations owes Fiji millions of dollars in financing their contribution to peacekeeping duties.
While speaking after welcoming United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix at the Blackrock Camp in Nadi, Mr Rabuka said the visit offered an opportunity for Fiji to discuss their concerns about financing Fijian officers on UN peacekeeping duties.
“It is very timely,” he said.
“It gives us an opportunity to see what we have at home in our capacity to keep abreast with developments and training.
“It is also an opportunity for me as Prime Minister to tell him about the impact and the burden of peacekeeping, particularly the financing of our contributions.
“The UN still owes us a few hundred million dollars, which could have gone into infrastructure development, particularly in health, transport and education.”
During the welcome ceremony, Mr Lacroix acknowledged Fiji’s contributions to the UN Peacekeeping movement.
“I assure you that this day will mark an important step in the common work that we do and that we will continue to do serving peace, serving humanity,” he said.
“Your commitment to being an active contributor to the safety and security of the whole region in the Pacific is also very valuable and appreciated and we are very much looking forward to working with you so that the voice of Fiji and indeed the voice of the Pacific region is being heard loudly in the efforts that we will continue to make.”
