Fiji, Sierra Leone establish diplomatic ties

Fiji and Sierra Leone have established diplomatic relations, the Fijian government announced Saturday.

At a ceremony at the Permanent Mission of Fiji to the United Nations in New York earlier this week, Peter Thomson, Fiji's permanent representative to the UN and his Sierra Leone counterpart Vandi Chidi Minah signed a joint communique establishing diplomatic relations between the two states, according to Fiji's Department of Information.

"The communique conveys the agreement of both States for their diplomatic relations to be guided by the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and international law, particularly on equality among States, respect for national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of other States, and respect for international treaties," the department said.

"The communique expresses the desire of both States to promote and strengthen bonds of friendship and cooperation between their two countries in political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields," it added.

Following the ceremony, the two ambassadors held talks on areas of common interest between their two countries and potential areas of cooperation at the UN, including such subjects as UN Security Council reform and the place of small states in the UN system.

In line with the Look North policy, Fiji has been expanding its diplomatic ties across the globe. Endi