BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Prime Minister of Fiji – the leader who championed the Ocean of Peace concept adopted yesterday in Honiara, says the declaration reaffirmed the Pacific way of unity that values peace and security.
It will also show to the world the Pacific people mean business with peace in the region, which reflects the collective stories of the Pacific islands.
“Today, through the ocean of peace, we recognise the rights of the people to peace and reaffirm the strong resolve of our people to contribute to and strengthen international peace and security.
“By this declaration, we have declared and secured this right,” he said.
Rabuka added the creates opportunity for unique cultures and people to declare their homes, waters, food sources, livelihoods, development and aspirations free of coercion.
He said it demands a certain standard of behaviour, one that embraces the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
The PM emphasized that the 2025 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent is integral to the new way of thinking that is needed for Pacific region.
“While the region is in transition from cooperation to integration, we do so with a time-tested dream of the Pacific way.
“Dialogue, unity, faith, and trust are integral to that. Inherent to these is our agility as a region. These, too, are founding tenets of our Pacific regionalism,” Rabuka said.
He added unity among Pacific family fundamental for the ocean of peace to work. The foreign family is called upon to live by the values reflecting peace as one of the highest virtues.
“We are the demonstration of the principles we advocate, and the Pacific way is the fountain and platform on which we stand.
“The ocean of peace is also an end state. It will demonstrate that our region is free from militarisation, consistent with UN Charter, while embracing multiracialism and the principles of collective action.
“The ocean of peace tells the world who we are as a people, who we are as a region.
“Our silence must never be misread for emptiness or weakness. That we resent disrespect and coercion, while we might be small, our determination and faith in God, in the God we serve, is the very source of our being and regard,” Rabuka said.
