2003 Media Releases

U.S. Response to Fiji Signing the Article 98 Agreement with Fiji

We are pleased with the statement made in Parliament today by Foreign Affairs Minister, Honorable Kaliopate Tavola that the Government of Fiji intends to sign the Article 98 Non-Surrender Agreements with the United States Government.

The Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Hugh Neighbour, said that Fiji will now join more than seventy countries that have signed this agreement because of the mutually beneficial protections it provides to the signatories. By deciding to sign the Article 98 agreement, there will be a number of advantages to Fiji including the elimination of the legal restrictions that had held back more than one million U.S. dollars of assistance.