Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama received a courtesy call from the new non-resident Ambassador of Germany to Fiji, His Excellency, Mr Stefan Krawielicki, yesterday (25/05/22).
The Prime Minister congratulated Mr Krawielicki on his new diplomatic role and reaffirmed the Fijian Government’s commitment to work closely with Germany in further strengthening relations between the two nations.
He acknowledged Germany and the European Union’s (EU) on-going cooperation with #Fiji through Germany’s Aid agency (GIZ), in the advancement of sustainable development, including cooperation in the areas of climate change and oceans.
Prime Minister Bainimarama underlined Fiji’s commitment to deepening its collaboration with Germany at all levels and enhancing the EU’s Pacific links.
He acknowledged that Germany’s financial support for international environmental and climate efforts has allowed Fiji to obtain development assistance for some of its climate adaptation and mitigation programmes.
Additionally, Fiji is hopeful that all countries will commit to implementing the Glasgow Climate Pact, in the lead-up to COP27 in Egypt.
The Prime Minister also expressed the Fijian Government’s appreciation to Germany and the European Union for their contribution to the COVAX facility that has enabled Fiji to access lifesaving vaccines, progress towards economic recovery.
Perspectives on potential opportunities of cooperation in areas of climate actions, oceans tourism, trade and investment, were also discussed at the meeting.
The Prime Minister extended the Fijian Government’s best wishes to Ambassador Krawielicki as he assumes his new role and gave his assurances that through the collaboration of the Fiji and Germany Missions in Wellington, New Zealand, relations of the two nations would certainly elevate to new levels.
Ambassador Krawielicki commended Prime Minister Bainimarama’s strong leadership and unwavering commitment on global issues of climate change.
He said Germany attaches great importance to its cooperation with Fiji, since it is the hub in the region and it hosts the regional GIZ Office in Suva.
“The German Government reaffirms its support for Fiji and the Pacific region to build resilience and to support a sustainable recovery both from climate change and the #COVID19 pandemic crisis.”
He said the Policy Guidelines on the Indo-Pacific region reflect Germany’s strong commitment to the advancement of the Indo-Pacific region.
“Through these Guidelines, Germany will strengthen support for Fiji and will step up its engagement in the Indo-Pacific in areas like climate protection, adaptation to climate change, biodiversity protection, renewable energies, energy efficiency, culture, education and science, as well as defending the rule of law, rules-based free trade, human rights and democracy. Likewise, the EU has also adopted a EU strategy on the Indo-Pacific,” Ambassador Krawielicki said.
He said Germany appreciates Fiji’s active role at the United Nations, especially in participating in UN peacekeeping missions, recently the support for the UN resolution, on Ukraine.
“I would like to thank the Fijian Government for its engagement as member of the core-group and co-sponsor of the resolutions at the UN Emergency General Assembly as well as in the Human Rights Council. This support demonstrates our shared values, aiming to promote global peace and security.”
Ambassador Krawielicki also expressed the German Government’s appreciation to the Fijian government for its impressive assistance provided in the repatriation of German and EU nationals in April 2020, after the borders were closed due the pandemic.
“We are very grateful for the efforts of the Fijian government, the European Delegation and GIZ that enabled and supported the repatriation of more than 200 German and European nationals from Fiji.”
Fiji and Germany share a longstanding relationship dating back to August 1973. The friendship and cooperation between the two nations has continued to strengthen in many areas such as climate change, forestry and ocean conservation. It has gained a historic momentum during the Fijian Presidency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 23 held in Bonn, Germany in 2017.
