Fiji to chair G77 and China in 2013

Fiji has been elected to Chair the Group of 77 and China in 2013.

The election took place by acclamation at the G77 Ministerial Meeting in New York, following the nomination of Fiji by the Asia-Pacific Group of the United Nations yesterday.

With 132 Member States, the G77 is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, who represented Fiji at the Ministerial Meeting to accept the nomination in a statement said they accepted this high office with a sense of deep humility.

 He was very grateful for the collective confidence the G77 had shown in entrusting Fiji with the 2013 chairmanship.

He noted it was matter of pride for the Pacific Island region, that for the first time in the 48 year history of G77, there would be a G77 Chair in 2013 from one of the PSIDS (Pacific Small Island Developing Countries).

The President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr Vuk Jeremic, and the UN Secretary-General, H.E Mr Ban Ki-moon, were present at the Ministerial Meeting and congratulated Minister Kubuabola on Fiji’s election to the 2013 G77 Chair.

Meanwhile, Fijian Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said, “All Fijians have a reason to be intensely proud of our country and the advances we are making.”

He also added that he wished to pay tribute to the work of Fiji’s Foreign Minister, Kubuabola , his team and Permanent Representative at the UN Peter Thomson for the honour they have brought to Fiji.

By Indrani Krishna