Fiji, Iraq establish diplomatic ties

Fiji and Iraq have established diplomatic relations, the Fijian government announced Wednesday.

At a ceremony at the permanent mission of Iraq to the United Nations in New York earlier this week, Peter Thomson, Fiji's permanent representative to the UN and his Iraqi counterpart Mohamed Ali Alhakim signed a joint communique establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations, according to Fiji's Ministry of Information.
The communique conveys the agreement of both countries for their diplomatic relations to be guided by the principles and norms of the UN Charter and International Law, in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It expresses the desire of both states to promote and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation in political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields.
Following the ceremony, the two ambassadors held talks on areas of common interest between their two countries and potential areas of cooperation at the UN and other international forums. Alhakim expressed "deep gratitude" for Fiji's provision of the UN Guard Unit in Iraq since 2004, said the Ministry of Information.
With the "Look North" policy in effect, Fiji has been expanding its diplomatic ties globally.