The Russians have shown interest in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ plans to establish a peacekeeping training institution at Blackrock, Nadi.

RFMF Chief of Staff Colonel Litea Seruiratu disclosed this yesterday.

The interest was shown by a military delegation led by the Head of Missile Artillery Chief Directorate, Lieutenant-General Nikolay Parshin.

They are here for the handover of Russian equipment to help Fijian peacekeepers in the volatile Middle East.

The Russians heard in a briefing in Suva yesterday about Blackrock Camp.

The Peacekeeping Institution would be completed in 2018 and would also cater for peacekeepers from other Pacific islands.

Colonel Seruiratu said Blackrock would be the first peacekeeping institution in the Pacific islands.

Colonel Seruiratu said the Russian delegation was told that apart from operation training they would also include two subjects– Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Treatment of Civilians.

“These two subjects are requirements from the United Nations,” she said.

Colonel Seruiratu said that there had been a lot of complaints about the involvement of peacekeepers on SEA.

“I’m happy to report that none of our peacekeepers have been reported to be involved in SEA.”

She said while the Russians did not make a commitment to Blackrock Camp, there was a possibility that help would come from them.

Arms for Golan Heights

Colonel Seruiratu said the new arms from Russia would be first used in the Golan Heights.

In June, she said, 296 more soldiers including 10 staff would leave for the Golan Heights.

A Fijian peacekeeping battalion is part of the United Nations force there on the border between Syria and Israel.

She said that our soldiers in the Golan Heights were using outdated arms.

“We thank Russia for their timely donation.”

Russians complete training

Colonel Seruiratu said the 11 Russian trainers who were in the country, to train the RFMF trainers on the use of the new arms were returning.

The trainers, she said, were from the factory that manufactured the arms.

She said they spent about two weeks at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks training the RFMF trainers.

Quarter guard

Lieutenant-General Parshin was accorded a quarter guard at the RFMF Headquarters at Berkley Crescent before his meeting and briefing with the acting Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto and senior officers.

After the meeting he went up to Queen Elizabeth Barracks for the hand-over of arms to the RFMF.

The Russian delegation was accorded a traditional Fijian ceremony of qaloqalovi and sevusevu.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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