Laisenia Qarase

"Fiji can make a similar report on the US on all those issues. Our report would be far worse than the US state department's report on Fiji." ."

"They believe they are just and reasonable, given our history, racial division, present-day majority of Fijians, their ownership of the land and their indigenous identity."

"This age of globalisation is marked by the adoption of universal principles governing such matters as democracy, human rights, trade and development. Today, I reaffirm here that Fiji accepts these pre…"

"They forget that although our economy has been doing well, it is still narrow and fragile and it will take a long time before we can compete fully with the developed nations."

"Two distinct ethnic groups, with quite different cultures and religious beliefs, were … put together in the same islands. Colonial policy largely kept them apart and there was, therefore, little assim…"

"Last year , the nation celebrated a week of reconciliation and forgiveness, supported by all our main religions and numerous civic organizations and individuals from all our ethnic groups. Some of tho…"

"Reconciliation between our communities, following all the hurt and distress of 2000, is a critical part of the reconstruction of the country."

"It is now time for us to bring a greater degree of closure to a tragic period of our history. We must not forget what happened in 2000, but we must turn our eyes more to the future."