To build a peaceful and environmentally sustainable society, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo emphasizes the need to actively advocate for these principles. In his address at the graduation ceremony of the Basic Diplomacy Training program held in Suva, he highlighted the importance of commitment to these ideals for the 16 graduates.
The eight-month course, organized by the United Nations Association of Fiji, marked its first significant initiative aimed at fostering leadership through diplomatic engagement. Mr. Vosarogo encouraged the graduates to be determined in their professional environments, stating, “You will have to fight for it in the spaces that you work in.”
He recognized that a unified and collective voice is crucial for achieving meaningful progress, particularly in addressing the urgent issue of climate change. He pointed out that climate change represents just one facet of the wider “triple planetary crisis,” which also encompasses biodiversity loss and pollution, all of which pose significant threats to the Pacific region.
Mr. Vosarogo praised the program’s growth from its humble origins, noting that it has produced 500 graduates. He reminisced about its beginnings in a car park at the University of the South Pacific, where the first cohort was trained. “Always remember your beginnings,” he advised, encouraging the graduates to cherish their journey.
He described the path ahead for the graduates, highlighting their opportunity to engage in significant international discussions, starting from the Small Island States Development Forum to the Alliance of Small Island States and subsequently participating in the African Caribbean Pacific Forum.
The event emphasized the graduates’ transition into a larger purpose and the important role they will play in global diplomacy moving forward.