PM Sopoaga commends Government for Paris efforts

The Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga has once again praised Fiji’s efforts in the Conference of the Parties 21(COP21) in Paris, France.

He made the comment while arriving at Nadi International Airport yesterday.

“I am very grateful to Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama who stood with me in the early hours and nights working together,” Mr Sopoaga said.

“I think that our work has been worthwhile. I know that not all ministers were there, but I am very grateful to the Fijian ministers who were there,” he said.

“I thank Fiji because Fiji really did well and we the Pacific delegates were tired and it was very difficult to be put under a lot of pressure from big countries.

“The Fijian delegates did well and their delegation was properly represented in other topics that were discussed together with Tuvalu.”

He said it was time for Pacific Island countries to join hands in fighting over climate change.

“This is the time for us to move forward and this is not the time for us to continue pointing fingers at each other,” PM Sopoaga said.

“We need to work together because without this, there wouldn’t have been a legal agreement and we need to be realistic,” Mr Sopoaga said.

He said he was pleased with the outcome of COP21.

“COP21 has set the way for real action to address the effects of climate change. I am happy that we worked together with our Pacific sisters. All the governments and all ministers who were there worked together and for that I am very happy for all their contributions.

“I think we maintained the momentum and this is something that we are to be grateful for through our own collective work.

“We managed to work together. We managed to put our feet down and work with developed countries,” Mr Sopoaga said.

Edited by Maikeli Seru

Feedback:  luke.nacei@fijisun.com.fj