Australian Minister for Defense and National Security to arrive in Fiji tonight

Australian Minister for Defense and National Security Senator Marise Payne will be arriving in Fiji tonight.

Minister for Defence and National Security Ratu Inoke Kubuabola will be meeting his Australian counterpart in Nadi.

Kubuabola says that he is keen to meet Senator Payne especially after their visit to Australia in March this year to sign the agreement on the acquisition of the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles.

He says that the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles will not only support Fiji’s peacekeepers but will also be used in humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation after natural disasters.

Kubuabola adds that this time maritime security and the establishment of a Regional Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief and Peacekeeping Centre at the Blackrock Camp in Nadi, is high on their agenda and he is optimistic their dialogue will result in a stronger partnership.

Senator Payne and her team arrive tonight in Nadi and will be accorded a reception with bilateral discussions to follow on Thursday, part of the short programme will be to visit the Blackrock Camp before she returns to Australia.