Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua received a farewell courtesy call from the outgoing Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific based in Suva, His Excellency Sujiro Seam.
On behalf of Government and the people of Fiji, Hon. Qereqeretabua thanked Ambassador Seam for the work undertaken during his tenure and wished him all the best for his future endeavors.
She acknowledged the European Union’s (EU) ongoing cooperation and support for Fiji’s socioeconomic development priorities.
Hon. Qereqeretabua reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to work closely with the EU on global and regional issues of importance and in elevating our partnerships to newer heights.
EU has over the years supported Fiji through initiatives across a diverse range of areas including sustainable livelihood, governance, gender and human rights, climate change, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian aid, amongst others.
As a member of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states, Fiji also looks forward for the finalization of the new ACP-EU Agreement to take us forward for the next 20 years.
Among the key issues discussed included the prospects to reopen Fiji’s Mission in Brussels and visa free travel for the Schengen area, trade and investment opportunities with interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA), and the opening of the new German Embassy in Fiji next month.
It was highlighted that an invitation has been extended by France for the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Sitiveni Rabuka to make an official visit, which will further enhance Fiji-EU relations.
With that the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ms. Catherine Colonna’s first visit to Fiji this week and anticipated visit by German officials next month signifies the strength of our relations.
EU is keen to further strengthen support to Fiji in important areas such as climate funding, humanitarian aid and disaster management, defence and security, maritime safety, cyber security, amongst others.
Ambassador Seam said with his new diplomatic posting in Indonesia, he looks forward to working closely with the Fiji’s Embassy in Jakarta to deepen our levels of cooperation.
He thanked the Government and the people of Fiji for their unwavering support.
In particular, he commended the People’s Coalition Government for their approach to openly engage with the EU in a transparent manner and EU highly appreciates this new approach, where people can express themselves freely in a democratic society.
Ambassador Seam is optimistic that the recent launch of the Fiji and EU Trade and Investment Forum will also increase opportunities to enhance the Fiji and EU’s partnership.
Prior, to his appointment in 2019 as the new Head of the European Union Delegation for the European Union (EU), Ambassador Seam was the Ambassador of France to Fiji. He was also accredited to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
Established in 1975, the European Union (EU) is represented in the Pacific by a Delegation in Suva, which is responsible for the conduct of official relations with Fiji and twelve other Pacific countries and three Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT’s).
The Delegation works closely with all the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States represented in the region.
