Fiji Mission to the European Union
Encyclopedia
The Fiji Mission to the European Union is responsible for Fiji
's diplomatic relations with the European Union
and with all member countries, except those with which Fiji maintains specific diplomatic relations, such as the United Kingdom
.
The Mission, which was first established in July 1973, is based in Brussels
, Belgium
, and doubles as Fiji's Embassy to Belgium. The Head of Mission to the European Union, currently Ratu
Seremaia Tui Cavuilati, also holds the title of Ambassador
to Belgium. He is assisted by two counsellors (Tupou Raturaga and Nidhendra Singh, who is responsible for agriculture
and trade
) and by Miss Y. Chan, the Second Secretary. In addition, there are two supporting staff.
The main focus of the Mission is to promote Fiji's trading interests and gain markets for Fiji's sugar
through such agreements as the Lome Convention
and the Cotonou Agreement
. It has also helped negotiate tariff
concessions and preferential market quotas for the export of garments and canned tuna
to European countries.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
's diplomatic relations with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and with all member countries, except those with which Fiji maintains specific diplomatic relations, such as the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The Mission, which was first established in July 1973, is based in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and doubles as Fiji's Embassy to Belgium. The Head of Mission to the European Union, currently Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Seremaia Tui Cavuilati, also holds the title of Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Belgium. He is assisted by two counsellors (Tupou Raturaga and Nidhendra Singh, who is responsible for agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
) and by Miss Y. Chan, the Second Secretary. In addition, there are two supporting staff.
The main focus of the Mission is to promote Fiji's trading interests and gain markets for Fiji's sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
through such agreements as the Lome Convention
Lomé Convention
The Lomé Convention is a trade and aid agreement between the European Community and 71 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, first signed in February 1975 in Lomé, Togo.- History :...
and the Cotonou Agreement
Cotonou Agreement
The Cotonou Agreement is a treaty between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States . It was signed in June 2000 in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, by 78 ACP countries and the then fifteen Member States of the European Union...
. It has also helped negotiate tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
concessions and preferential market quotas for the export of garments and canned tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
to European countries.
List of heads of mission
The following individuals have held office as Head of Mission to the European Union.| Order | Chief Justice | Term of office |
| 1. | Sir Josaia Rabukawaqa [1] | 1973 - 1976 |
| 2. | Satya Nandan Satya Nandan Satya N. Nandan, CF, CBE, a diplomat and lawyer from Fiji specializing in ocean affairs, is Chairman of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, where he began a two-year term on 1 January 2009.... |
8 November 1976 - 1983 |
| 3. | J.D. Cavalevu | 1983 - 1985 |
| 4. | Poseci Bune Poseci Bune Poseci Waqalevu Bune is a Fijian politician, who has served as Deputy Leader of the Fiji Labour Party . From June to December 2006, he served as Minister for the Environment, one of nine FLP ministers, in the multiparty Cabinet of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase... |
1985 - 1987 |
| 5. | Kaliopate Tavola Kaliopate Tavola Kaliopate Tavola is a Fijian economist, diplomat, and politician, who was his country's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2006... |
1988 - 1998 |
| 6. | Isikeli Mataitoga Isikeli Mataitoga Isikeli Mataitoga is a Fijian diplomat and is the current Ambassador of Fiji to Russia, presenting his credentials to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 5 February 2010.-References:... |
1998 - 2004 |
| 7. | Ratu Ratu Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"... Seremaia Tui Cavuilati |
2004 - present |
| Rabukawaqa, who was Fiji's High Commissioner High Commissioner High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:... to the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... , was accredited as Head of Mission to the European Union and as Ambassador to Belgium, but was not resident. |
||