Berenado Vunibobo
Encyclopedia
Berenado Vunibobo was Fiji
's permanent representative to the United Nations
from 1976–1980 and from 2008–2010, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Civil Aviation 1997-1998. During his second term, he represented the unelected Fiji government led by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. Vunibobo's predecessor, Isikia Savua
, had suggested that one of his tasks would be to counteract potential pressure from countries such as Australia
or New Zealand
who might seek to have Fiji removed from United Nations peacekeeping
operations - which indeed they did. Vunibobo agreed with the assessment, and stated:
He was succeeded in February 2010 by Peter Thomson
.
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 permanent representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1976–1980 and from 2008–2010, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Civil Aviation 1997-1998. During his second term, he represented the unelected Fiji government led by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. Vunibobo's predecessor, Isikia Savua
Isikia Savua
Isikia Rabici Savua was a senior Fijian diplomat, who had a distinguished career in the Military and police forces before taking up his last post as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations on 4 March 2003.- Career :Savua spent 18 years in the Fijian army, which he joined on...
, had suggested that one of his tasks would be to counteract potential pressure from countries such as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
or New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
who might seek to have Fiji removed from United Nations peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operations - which indeed they did. Vunibobo agreed with the assessment, and stated:
- “The biggest challenge for me, looking at our current situation, is to try and update various people of the developments here in our country. We lack the resources our critics have and we can see that these critics are putting pressure on the UN and BritishUnited KingdomThe 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...
government not to recruit peacekeepers from Fiji.”
He was succeeded in February 2010 by Peter Thomson
Peter Thomson (diplomat)
Peter Thomson, born in Suva in 1948, is a Fiji Islander diplomat of Scottish descent, and Fiji's current Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He also has Australian and New Zealand citizenship....
.