Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka met with His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London on 7th May 2024.
The historic meeting reaffirmed the strong and enduring relationship between Fiji and the United Kingdom (UK).
During his royal audience with His Majesty King Charles III, Prime Minister Rabuka conveyed the Coalition Government and the people of Fiji’s gratitude for the opportunity to meet with the King, acknowledging the shared historical links between Fiji and the UK.
Hon. Rabuka also took the opportunity to formally apologize to King Charles III for his actions and the events of 1987, reaffirming Fiji’s commitment to strengthening our bilateral ties.
PM Rabuka also reflected on his visit to Buckingham Palace in 1998 when he presented his traditional apology or Matanigasau to her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second for the events of 1987 and in declaring Fiji a Republic.
Fiji has a deep and longstanding connection to the British Crown which is demonstrated through a record of military service where generations of Fijians have served and fought alongside the British, particularly in the Second World War, and later in Malaya, Borneo, Oman, Iraq and Afghanistan.
For this, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed the deep regard and fondness of the people of Fiji for the Crown and the Royal Family, adding that more than 20,000 of our people call Britain home since the recruitment of Commonwealth citizens to the British Army in the 1960s and since 1997.
He noted Fiji’s rich military history serving the British Crown and its deep commitment to furthering mutual interests, including rugby.
Whilst elaborating on his proposal to declare the Pacific as the ‘Ocean of Peace,’ the Prime Minister reiterated Fiji’s support for the UK’s initiative to promote peace, as well as its ongoing commitment to the Commonwealth and its enduring values.
PM Rabuka informed His Majesty that the Ocean of Peace concept emanated from his announcement at the UN General Assembly last year, where he emphasized that “we in Fiji want a future characterised by global solidarity and the collective wellbeing of humanity”.
As an advocate for the Blue Pacific to be declared as an Ocean of Peace, Prime Minister Rabuka highlighted that the peace concept is in alignment with existing regional declarations and the UN Secretary-General’s Agenda for Peace, which outlines a vision for multilateral efforts to advance peace and security in our complex and uncertain environment.
He said that peace-building at home, in the region and on the global stage is the key agenda for Fiji and a key priority of the People’s Coalition Government.
On the home front, PM Rabuka said that the Coalition Government that he leads is committed to the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to heal the pain and scars left by the events of 1987, 2000 and 2006.
Additionally, he further highlighted that nation-states must respect one another and the rules-based international order forming a stable foundation from which we can tackle existential threats like climate change and pursuing collective security and lasting peace for all.
He informed His Majesty that it is now time to make peace at home, promote social cohesion and address the pain and injustices of the past, for a better future.
Fiji, as a proud member of the Commonwealth, plays an active role in advancing the Sustainable Development Agenda.
In this regard, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of a unified Commonwealth approach to address climate change, a key concern for Small Island Developing States.
As the Commonwealth’s 75th anniversary approaches, PM Rabuka said that he looks forward to welcoming Commonwealth leaders to the region for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Rabuka conveyed the best wishes, love and prayers of the people of Fiji for His Majesty, King Charles III’s recovery to full health and vitality.
The Royal Family.
