Following her introductory engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat earlier in the week, Cook Islands Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Ms. Elizabeth Wright‑Koteka, has held a series of meetings with the Fiji Government to strengthen the Fiji-Cook Islands relationship and advance delivery under the countries’ Memorandum of Understanding on Development Cooperation.
Secretary Wright‑Koteka’s first engagement on arrival in Suva was a courtesy call on Fiji’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua. The meeting provided an early opportunity to connect with Fiji’s political leadership and to reaffirm the importance the Cook Islands places on Fiji as a close Pacific neighbour and natural partner. Secretary Wright‑Koteka thanked Assistant Minister Qereqeretabua for representing Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at the Cook Islands’ 60th Anniversary celebrations in Rarotonga last year, and acknowledged the more than 3,000 Fijian nationals who now call the Cook Islands home as an important part of the Cook Islands economy, culture and family.
Discussions took stock of progress under the Fiji-Cook Islands MOU, signed in 2023 and now at its midpoint. Secretary Wright‑Koteka emphasised the need to focus on a small number of clear priorities for the remaining term of the MOU, including trade and investment, connectivity and skills. She also welcomed Fiji’s growing presence in the Cook Islands through the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Rarotonga, and congratulated Fiji on its upcoming hosting of the Pre‑COP meeting ahead of COP31 in Türkiye and the confirmation of a Green Climate Fund regional office in Fiji, noting the benefits these would bring for the wider Pacific.
Today, Secretary Wright‑Koteka met Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Raijeli Taga. The meeting reinforced the earlier messages and helped to establish a senior‑level working relationship between the two Ministries. The Secretary underlined plans to grow the capacity of the Cook Islands High Commission in Suva so it can better follow up on agreed initiatives and prepare for key regional meetings. Both sides discussed practical options for keeping political attention on the relationship, including regular high‑level dialogue to review progress and set priorities, building on understandings reached between the two Prime Ministers last year.
Secretary Wright‑Koteka and Dr. Taga also exchanged views on the wider regional context, including climate change, economic pressures and the rise in transnational security challenges such as illicit drugs and organised crime. Dr. Taga briefed on Fiji’s Foreign Service Learning and Professionalisation Strategy (FLPS) and its diplomatic academy, and outlined aspirations for the academy to grow into a regional institution for diplomacy over time. Secretary Wright‑Koteka welcomed this ambition, noting the importance of Pacific‑designed training and professional development to support the region’s leadership agenda.
Secretary Wright‑Koteka said the Cook Islands and Fiji now have a firm platform to focus on a manageable set of priorities, backed by consistent dialogue and follow‑through. She noted that the combination of Fiji’s diplomatic reach and the Cook Islands’ growing presence in Suva and Rarotonga provides a strong basis for the partnership to deliver visible benefits for people in both countries and to support Pacific‑led cooperation on issues of significant national and regional interest.
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