Caption: Fiji Somalia sign diplomatic relations at Fiji’s UN Mission in New York. Photo: SUPPLIED.
The Federal Republic of Somalia and the Republic of Fiji formalised diplomatic relations in a ceremony at the Fiji Mission to the United Nations in New York today.
At the ceremony, the Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations, Ambassador Elmi Ahmed Duale and his Fijian counterpart, Ambassador Peter Thomson, signed a joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The communiqué expresses the desire of the Governments of Fiji and Somalia to promote and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between their two countries in political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields.
It also states that diplomatic relations between Somalia and Fiji will be guided by the objectives and purposes of the United Nations Charter and international law, particularly on equality among States, respect for national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of other States, and respect for international treaties.
Following the formalisation ceremony, Ambassadors Duale and Thomson held talks on areas of common interest between their two countries.
Ambassador Duale thanked Fiji for the leadership provided to the Group of 77 and China in 2013 and said his country looked forward to continuing to work with Fiji in forwarding the interests of developing countries. Ambassador Thomson outlined the progress being made to the holding of general elections in Fiji in September 2014.
MEDIA RELEASE.