The Republic of the Fiji Military Forces will continue to work hard towards securing senior positions within United Nations Missions in the area of peacekeeping.

This came after the RFMF Commander, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, revealed United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Chief of Staff, Colonel Ratu Jone Kalouniwai’s return to Fiji this week.

Colonel Ratu Jone held the post for the past two years.

Rear Admiral Naupoto said Colonel Ratu Jone was the latest Fiji military officer who held a senior position in one of the United Nations Missions.

Rear Admiral Naupoto said it was after a long time that Fiji managed to secure a very senior position with the United Nations Forces.

“I am looking forward to have him back but we will give him some time to take his leave before we slot him into one of the positions here,” he said.

Rear Admiral Naupoto said that he was still deciding what post he would give Colonel Ratu Jone.

He said that Colonel Ratu Jone was spoken highly of by other military officers within UNDOF during his latest visit there.

Rear Admiral Naupoto added Colonel Ratu Jone has provided continuing leadership whilst there were changes in command.

“At the same time he has performed to the best as a senior Middle East officer for RFMF. He rolls up wherever he represents the Commander of the RFMF to all our battalions and also when he is performing his duty,” he said.

Rear Admiral Naupoto said they would work hard to secure more senior positions within the United Nations missions.

“We look forward to the day when we can get back to Force Commander in one of the UN Missions where we serve but there are requirements that we need to meet in order to achieve that,” he said.

Rear Admiral Naupoto said Fiji managed to secure positions like Force Commander and Deputy Force Commander within UN Missions.

President Major General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote served as the Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the early 1990s.

Rear Admiral Naupoto also added that he looked forward to working with Colonel Ratu Jone when he returned to Fiji.

“I look forward to getting him back and certainly there is a lot he can share with RFMF, his experience especially in dealing with UNDOF,” Rear Admiral Naupoto said.

Colonel Ratu Jone’s date of arrival would be confirmed later.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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