With Contingent Owned Equipment, Fijian troops will be able to serve in their various missions with their own lorries, generators, trucks

Plans are in place to maximise reimbursement opportunities available for Fiji in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces director peacekeeping, Captain Humphrey Tawake said this was the way forward in our peacekeeping endeavours – to put in place our own Contingent Owned Equipment (COE).

At the moment Fiji is using UN owned equipment. The only equipment we take from Fiji for peacekeeping duties is our personal equipment.

With COE, Fijian troops will be able to serve in their various missions with their own lorries, generators, trucks and more.

“Now that we know that peacekeeping is the leverage of our international commitments and international relations, we want to capture all that is available in the UN peacekeeping system,” Captain Humphrey said.

This opportunity was not captured years ago, because the political will from Government was not there, he said.

The COE system was adopted by the United Nations to simplify the means by which countries are reimbursed for providing equipment, personnel and self-sustainment support services to formed military or Police contingents in peacekeeping missions.

Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka are the top five contributors of peacekeeping with their COE.

“Approval has to go through Government for capital funding. The initial cost will be high obviously but within five years we should be able to recover the cost,” Captain Humphrey said.

The Fijian delegation was in New York to attend the COE conference.

It also paid a courtesy call to the United Nations General Assembly president, Peter Thomson.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

Feedback:  rosi.doviverata@fijisun.com.fj