Rest of World
In January 2008, the Fiji Times Online reported that the government of Fiji had announced in a cabinet statement that it will establish full diplomatic relations with four nations: Iceland, Latvia, the Dominican Republic and Estonia. The establishment of relations had been requested by interim Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2006 | Fiji Live reported on 23 February 2006 that Fiji's United Nations ambassador Isikia Savua and his Brazilian counterpart Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg had recently signed a communiqué to establish diplomatic relations. Savua expressed the hope that Fiji's bio-fuels industry could benefit from Brazilian technology. |
| Cuba | See Cuban-Pacific relations
Fiji's ambassador to the United Nations, Berenado Vunibobo, stated in 2008 that his country could seek closer relations with Cuba, and in particular medical assistance, following a decline in Fiji's relations with New Zealand. Fiji's foreign minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau took part in the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana in September 2008. |
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| European Union | The European Union announced on 3 November 2005 that it would increase its assistance to Fijian schools from 2006 onwards. The assistance would cover infrastructure and building, as well as supplying schools with running water and telephone services. | |
| Denmark | Fiji is represented in Denmark, through its embassy in London, United Kingdom. Denmark is represented in Fiji, through its embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia. Denmark has one consulate in Suva, Fiji. | |
| France | See Fiji–France relations
Relations between the France and Fiji are currently strained, due to France's condemnation of the 2006 Fijian coup d'état. Previously, Franco-Fiji bilateral relations had primarily be centred on military cooperation, with France assisting Fiji in surveiling its maritime zone, and on development aid. French military assistance was suspended after the coup. French aid to Fiji includes the providing of equipment for poor and isolated areas, and assistance in the development of renewable energy. France also provides Fiji with translations into English of French scientific documents pertaining to the Pacific area. France promotes French culture and the French language in Fiji through the presence of the Alliance Française and by encouraging the teaching of French in schools and at the University of the South Pacific. The French embassy in Suva is accredited to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu. |
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| India | See India-Fiji relations
Fiji's relationship with India is often seen by observers against the backdrop of the sometimes tense relations between its indigenous people and the 38 percent of the population who are of Indian descent. A major diplomatic event for Fiji in 2005 occurred from 8 to 15 October, when Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Foreign Minister Kaliopate Tavola made an official visit to India. |
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| Israel | Relations with Israel have generally been cordial, with Fiji usually taking positions sympathetic to Israel in United Nations resolutions. Relations were strained in July 2006, however, when three Israelis, who arrived in Fiji on the 13th, were arrested and deported. Amit Ronen, Eldar Avracohen, and Nimrod Lahav were detained in a jail cell at Nadi Airport for six hours and deported to Australia the next day, for alleged mistreatment of Palestinians by Israel. | |
| South Korea | 1970 | See Fiji – South Korea relations
The Republic of the Fiji Islands and the Republic of Korea established official diplomatic relations in 1970, when Fiji became independent. There is a South Korean embassy in Suva and a Fijian embassy in Seoul. Relations between the two countries are currently friendly, and are being strengthened at the initiative of the Fijian authorities. |
| South Africa | 2006 | Foreign Minister Kaliopate Tavola announced on 15 February 2006 that South Africa would be the first African country to establish a diplomatic mission in Fiji. Diplomatic relations would open up new opportunities for trade and investment, Tavola said. On 27 February, it was announced that South Africa would be opening a High Commission in Fiji. |
| United Kingdom | Foreign Minister Tavola expressed concern on 11 July about moves by the British government to reduce its presence in the Pacific region. "We were not happy with that and on occasions, informed them of the folly of their decision to downsize their presence in the Pacific," Tavola said. Britain has already closed its consulate in Kiribati and subsequently closed its missions in Tonga 2005 and Vanuatu in 2006. Britain has also withdrawn from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, a regional organization of which it was a founding member and a major donor.
Tavola said the British withdrawal could create a power vacuum which others could exploit. A new Cold War era could come to the Pacific region, he said, with rivalries between China and Taiwan, as well as between China and Japan. |
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| United States | See Fiji-United States relations
Before the 2006 coup, the US government was highly critical of Fiji, causing tensions between the two countries. Relations are currently poor, due to the United States' opposition to Fiji's unelected government, after the 2006 Fijian coup d'état in December 2006. |
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| United Arab Emirates | 18 March 2010 | |
| Azerbaijan | 19 March 2010 | |
| Turkey | 17 November 1975 |
Read more about this topic: Foreign Relations Of Fiji
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