CODEL HYDE'S VISIT TO FIJI, AUGUST 15-17

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000323 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR EAID ETRD CVIS FJ TN SUBJECT: CODEL HYDE'S VISIT TO FIJI, AUGUST 15-17 This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Visiting House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde congratulated Fiji's Minister of Foreign Affairs Tavola on Fiji's recent national elections, testimony to the strong democratic institutions Fiji has developed. The Minister hoped that Fiji will be considered for Millennium Challenge Account funding and noted Fiji's interest in Congressional action on immigration reform, in light of the fact that a substantial number of Fiji-citizen caregivers are in the United States, many illegally. Chairman Hyde and members of his delegation thanked the Minister and the Commander of Fiji's military for Fiji's global peacekeeping efforts, including Fiji's participation in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). When asked, Minister Tavola commented on big-power relations with the South Pacific (see septel). Several Congressmen also met with the head of the Tonga Defense Services. They thanked him for Tonga's participation in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and expressed their hope that Tonga will be able to go through with a planned second deployment to Iraq later this year. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R, Illinois) led a delegation of five members and thirteen staff to Nadi, Fiji August 15-17. Other members were Dana Rohrabacher (R, California),Eni Faleomavaega (D, American Samoa), Melvin Watt (D, North Carolina),and Jeff Flake (R, Arizona). Chairman Hyde and the delegation met with Frank Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF),and with Kaliopate Tavola, Fiji's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Several congressmen also met with General Tau'aika Uta'atu, the head of the Tonga Defense Services (TDS). Meeting with Commander Bainimarama -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Bainimarama's staff briefed on the history of the RFMF, focusing on its long and stellar history in peacekeeping. Commander Bainimarama noted that Fiji is likely to expand its operations in support of the United Nations in Iraq. He also reviewed Fiji's plans to build a peacekeeping training center in Western Fiji at Black Rock, noting that forces from throughout the Pacific would be able to train there. Chairman Hyde and each of the members expressed thanks to the Commander for Fiji's peacekeeping efforts in Iraq, Sudan, the Sinai and many other locations throughout the world. FM Tavola - Democracy, Terrorism, and Peace-building -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Foreign Minister Tavola reviewed Fiji's recent elections, stating that election observers from the EU, the Commonwealth, the Pacific Island Forum, and other sources all pronounced the elections free and fair. The multi-party cabinet initiated by Prime Minister Qarase and accepted by Labor Party leader Chaudhry has been embraced by the people of Fiji and lauded by foreign governments. Tavola said Fiji recognizes that no country is immune from the threat of terror attacks, and that Fiji is committed to the war on terror. Tavola suggested Fiji's record in international peacekeeping is testimony to this commitment. ¶5. (SBU) Chairman Hyde said the United States was impressed by the success of Fiji's election. Fiji, he said, appears to have developed the kind of institutions needed for democracy to succeed. Chairman Hyde and each of the members present thanked Fiji for its extraordinary accomplishments in peacekeeping, including Iraq. Trade, Aid, Immigration and UN Voting -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Tavola noted that Fiji's exports have suffered from the loss of U.S. garment quotas after the expiration of the WTO multi-fiber agreement. He added that the drop in EU sugar subsidies means that Fiji's sugar industry must go through substantial reform in order to compete. On the other hand, exports to the U.S. of tuna through a partnership with Bumble Bee and the success of (American-owned) Fiji Water are bright spots. Investment potential in Fiji is very high, he said, especially in tourism and information technology. Tavola noted that Fiji is a Millennium Challenge Account "candidate country," and he hoped Fiji could be considered for MCA funding in the future. ¶7. (SBU) Tavola said Fiji's economy depends heavily on remittances SUVA 00000323 002 OF 002 from foreign workers, including from the United States. Fiji is therefore very interested in prospects for "regularizing" the status of foreign workers in the United States. About 2,000 Fiji citizen "caregivers" are currently in the U.S., he said, and many are there illegally. Tavola hopes that some consideration for Fiji workers in specialized fields like care-giving and nursing could be included in future immigration bills. Chairman Hyde said that while there is no agreement in Congress about the shape of immigration reform (as exemplified by a lively discussion between Representatives Rohrabacher and Watt during the meeting) it is clear that changes need to be made, especially in regard to workers in short supply in the U.S., like nurses and caregivers. ¶8. (SBU) Chairman Hyde thanked Tavola for Fiji's support in the UN on key counter-terrorism and other issues. Representative Rohrabacher expressed hope that Fiji would not support a UN program that he said advocates abortion as a means of family planning. A spirited discussion followed among several of the congressmen on abortion-related issues. Tavola noted that abortion is now becoming a hot-button issue in Fiji and that no clear lines of debate have yet been drawn, unlike in the U.S. Meeting with General Uta'atu, Tonga Defense Services -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Brigadier General Tau'aika Uta'atu, the head of the Tonga Defense Services (TDS),met with Representatives Rohrabacher, Faleomavaega, Watt, Flake, and several staffers over breakfast on August 15. Uta'atu stopped in Nadi overnight on his way to Mongolia to participate in the "Khaan-Quest" joint military exercises there. General Uta'atu said that although the Tonga Defense Board has not yet made a final decision, he is 80% certain that Tonga would agree to go forward with a second deployment to Iraq later this year. All of the Congressmen expressed their appreciation for Tonga's peacekeeping activities and especially Tonga's participation in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. Comment -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Codel Hyde's visit represents the highest level Congressional visit to Fiji in recent years. It afforded the United States the chance to once again express thanks and appreciation for the efforts of Fiji and Tonga in Iraq, and for their global peacekeeping efforts. If the visit can signify the start of increased high-level engagement between the U.S. and the South Pacific, Fiji and other countries in the region will be very pleased. ¶11. (U) Codel Hyde cleared this cable.