Minister for Defence and National Security Ratu Inoke Kubuabola yesterday acknowledged the Indonesian military for its assistance in reconstructing Queen Victoria School.

The school was severely damaged by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Ratu Inoke who is currently in Indonesia expressed the Fijian Government’s gratitude towards the deployment of the 100 military engineers during his meeting with the Chief of the Tentara Nasional Armed Forces/Indonesia National Armed Forces (TNI) Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo.

He expressed the hope that the cordial relations between Fiji and Indonesia could be further strengthened by the collaboration between the TNI and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces through a defence co-operation memorandum of understanding (MOU) which he proposed.

He stated that such co-operation would augur well for Fiji to be able to learn from the TNI in areas of training, education and capacity building including joint exercises between the military and navy of the two countries.

Ratu Inoke further extended an invitation to General Gatot to visit Fiji when he finds the time in the near future.

General Gatot said they were grateful to contribute to the Fijian Government’s reconstruction efforts through his soldiers at QVS.

He welcomed the idea of a MOU on defence co-operation and the opportunity to deepen Indonesia and Fiji relations through it.

He also expressed the hope that once the MOU is finalised he may have the opportunity to visit Fiji to witness the joint naval exercise among other activities.

The Fijian delegation will continue their visit in Jakarta until today and are expected to make a courtesy call to the Indonesian Minister of Defence and also visit Indonesia’s Peacekeeping Centre.

Source: DEPTFO

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