By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) – Fiji’s prime minister on Friday called for a peaceful Pacific region “free from militarization.”
Addressing the EU-Indo Pacific forum in Brussels, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the Pacific region, where rivals the US and China have been competing to cement their influence, was “a zone and ocean of peace.”
Emphasizing that Pacific nations want a “region free from militarization and conflict in line with UN Charter and multilateralism,” Rabuka invited all to “work together with partners to protect vast Ocean space” for a “peaceful and secure Pacific region.”
“I urge us all to reaffirm our commitment to shaping a future where peace, prosperity and environmental stewardship prevail,” said Rabuka to the participants at the forum hosted by EU Foreign Affairs Chief Josep Borrell.
Rabuka said the EU was “a crucial partner for peace and security” in the Pacific region.
“Let us envision a region that stands as a beacon of peace, the sanctuary of biodiversity with sustainable development for all,” he added.
Rabuka’s call for a peaceful Pacific region comes after Washington signed a defense pact with Papua New Guinea, while Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year.