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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000323

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

This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle
accordingly.

Summary
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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
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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
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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
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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

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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
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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
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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.