VISIT OF GENERAL ABIZAID TO FIJI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000092

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2016
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV FJ
SUBJECT: VISIT OF GENERAL ABIZAID TO FIJI

REF: SUVA 64

Classified By: Ambassador Larry Dinger; Sec. 1.4 (D) and (E)

Summary
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1. (C) The Commander of U.S. Central Command, General John
Abizaid, met with Fiji's Prime Minister, Vice President, and
Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF)
during a four hour visit to Suva on February 25. In all his
meetings, General Abizaid discussed the possibility of having
the RFMF participate in the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq,
distinct from Fiji's current military contingent in Iraq (134
troops) who are protecting UN facilities. Commander
Bainimarama is all in favor of the idea. Prime Minister
Qarase promised to bring it to the Cabinet for consideration
at a future date. (The CEO of the PM's Office told us
Cabinet consideration would probably not take place until
after upcoming elections. He later suggested that the U.S.
should consider resuming a bilateral economic-assistance
program if it wants Fiji to join the coalition.) General
Abizaid noted that effective civil-military relations, where
the military is subordinate to the elected leadership, is a
key challenge in many countries in his area of
responsibility. He told Bainimarama that a subordinate role
for the military is invariably good for the country and good
for the military. Ambassador Dinger noted U.S. concern about
recent RFMF statements that it might invoke a "doctrine of
necessity" and remove the current government. Any such
action, Ambassador Dinger said, would have very negative
consequences for the bilateral relationship. End Summary.

Fiji May Consider Joining the Coalition
of the Willing in Iraq
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2. (C) In each of his meetings, General Abizaid expressed
U.S. interest in having Fiji consider broadening its role in
Iraq. General Abizaid noted that RFMF peacekeepers are
respected all over the world, and have served with great
distinction in Lebanon, the Sinai, and Iraq (among other
locations). The current RFMF role in support of the United
Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) is very important.
He hoped that there might be even greater scope for Fiji to
take on additional missions of responsibility as part of the
multinational force (MNF-I). The Coalition would be happy to
discuss ways to ensure that Fiji troops have the proper
training and equipment needed to fulfill these potentially
more activist missions.


3. (C) Vice President Madraiwiwi said he could see domestic
value in increasing Fiji's involvement in Iraq. It might
encourage the government and military to work more closely
together. Commander Bainimarama noted that being part of the
multinational force would allow RFMF troops to deepen skills
they have honed over many years of peacekeeping experience.
Bainimarama told General Abizaid that he submitted a request
to the government of Fiji some weeks ago to send a platoon to
the Coalition and talked to the Prime Minister about the
issue on February 24. He asked the General to help convince
the PM. In the following meeting, Prime Minister Qarase said
the government has not yet formally considered joining the
Coalition, but noted that he would bring it before the
Cabinet at an appropriate time and respond "quickly."

PM's Office - The U.S. Should Make It Worth Fiji's While
-------------- --------------


4. (C) In an aside on Feb. 24, Joji Kotabalavu, CEO of the
Prime Minister's Office, told the Ambassador that a decision
on joining the Coalition may take some time. Elections may
be called shortly, bringing into effect a "caretaker"
government which could not undertake new commitments. If
elections are held in late April or early May, a new
government might not be in office until late May. (Note:
Elections have since been called, and will be held May 6-13.)
In a follow-on conversation on Feb. 27, Kotabalavu noted
that joining the Coalition would create new (terrorist) risks
for Fiji and its tourism-based economy. He proposed that, if
the U.S. wants Fiji to join the Coalition, we should "broaden
the basis" of Fiji-U.S. relations, specifically by adding
bilateral economic aid or trade assistance to the current
military assistance. (At present, the U.S. provides economic
assistance to Fiji only through multinational organizations
like the UN, the ADB, and the Secretariat of Pacific
Communities.) The Ambassador said he would pass the
suggestion to Washington.

Civil-Military Relations
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5. (C) In the chain of meetings, General Abizaid prefaced
his remarks to the Vice President, the Commander, and the
Prime Minister by explaining that Fiji and the southwest
Pacific were not his areas of expertise nor responsibility.
That is the role of PACOM. His major objective was to thank
Fiji for its participation in a number of missions within the
CENTCOM AOR. However, at Ambassador Dinger's urging, General
Abizaid commented in general terms that proper civil-military
relations are important for every democracy, including in the
CENTCOM area of responsibility. The military has to
understand, he said, that when the civilian government gives
an order, the military has to follow. Vice President
Madraiwiwi, who met General Abizaid first, encouraged the
general to pass that message to the Commander. The Vice
President said conversations he has mediated between the
Commander and Prime Minister have been going reasonably well.
The aim, he said, is to "restrain the Commander's
enthusiasm" (i.e. help convince the Commander not to take
extra-constitutional action). Madraiwiwi noted concern about
the RFMF demand for a census to be completed before elections
are conducted. He said it is simply impossible for that to
happen before the Constitution's election deadline.


6. (C) In his meeting with Commander Bainimarama and in the
context of discussing Iraq and Afghanistan, General Abizaid
reviewed the importance of proper civil-military relations in
a democracy. The Ambassador then noted recent statements by
an RFMF spokesman endorsing a Pakistan-like "doctrine of
necessity" which could be used to justify action by the
military against the government (see reftel). The Ambassador
said that invoking such a doctrine to remove a democratically
elected government would have a very negative impact on
U.S.-Fiji relations and could lead to a suspension of U.S.
military assistance under current U.S. laws. Bainimarama
responded that the RFMF does not intend to take any action
against the government, but the recent statements are meant
to warn the government that the option of military action is
available if the government continues to behave improperly.
"I can work with the ruling government," he said, "all they
have to do is clean up their act." General Abizaid responded
that one of the basic principles of a professional military
is to accept a role subordinate to the government. Over
time, such a role is invariably good for the country and for
the military.


7. (C) Prime Minister Qarase did not specifically raise his
troubled relations with Commander Bainimarama and referred to
civil-military relations only obliquely by noting that
democracy continues to be tested in Fiji.

Comment
--------------


8. (C) General Abizaid's brief visit accomplished two
important U.S. goals. The General made clear to Fiji's
civilian leadership the U.S. interest in having Fiji consider
joining the Coalition of the Willing, and our willingness to
discuss modalities. The General also delivered to Commodore
Bainimarama a clear message about the proper, subordinate
role of the military in any democratic state. Bainimarama
had heard that message before, but in the current dicey
military-civilian climate of Fiji it bore repeating.


9. (U) CENTCOM cleared this message.



DINGER