Laisenia Qarase: Community

Laisenia Qarase is Prime Minister of Fiji. Explore interesting quotes on community.
Laisenia Qarase: 114 quotes1 like

“It has, understandably, aggrieved our Muslim community. Their religion and its founder have been insulted, and ridiculed.”

Laisenia Qarase

( Fiji Live http://www.Fijilive.com). <br class="br">Reaction to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, 7 February 2006

“For our country, it is vitally important, as a factor for long-standing stability, that we always maintain a careful balance between the rights of individuals and communities, the special interests of indigenous people, including their right of ownership to their natural resources must also be protected.”

Laisenia Qarase

Address to the United Nations General Assembly, 17 September 2005 (excerpts)

“As leaders of our respective countries, we are faced with the same challenge of forging greater unity and cohesiveness in our diverse societies, and I share your view that this requires leadership committed to the welfare and interests of all citizens and communities.”

Laisenia Qarase

Letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 20 October 2005 (excerpts)

“It requires commitment, vision and will. Differences of ethnicity and multi-culturalism have to be managed and accommodated. It is a difficult balancing act, which must take account of the interests of all communities.”

Laisenia Qarase

Excerpts from an address to the Commonwealth Workshop in Nadi, 29 August 2005

“Freedom carries obligations and responsibilities. This applies, in particular, to the news media. Our media have an obligation to exercise their responsibilities in a manner that reflects the social, cultural and religious values of our different communities. ([http://www.pacificmagazine.net Pacific Magazine]).”

Laisenia Qarase

Reaction to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, 7 February 2006

“We will only overcome this (communal politics) when there is greater interracial trust, confidence and assimilation.”

Laisenia Qarase

Excerpts from an address to the Commonwealth Workshop in Nadi, 29 August 2005

“We have to recognise our cultural differences, but accept that they enrich our society. We also have to accept that all communities and citizens have contributed to the nation. We must understand that our homeland can only reach its full promise if we all continue to contribute, with fair and equitable benefits for all. Finally, we must recognize that for the accomplishment of full nationhood and unity, we have to give greater emphasis to our common interests.”

Laisenia Qarase

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

Laisenia Qarase

Excerpts from an address to the Commonwealth Workshop in Nadi, 29 August 2005

“I believe many of our country's differences stem from the lack of genuine appreciation of the cultures and religious traditions and beliefs of our various communities.”

Laisenia Qarase

Excerpt from speech at Life Skills workshop, Valelevu Grounds, 22 May 2005

“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 assimilation. This racial separation and segregation became a defining feature of our country. The two communities have co-existed, without finding a sense of unified nationhood.”

Laisenia Qarase

“I want to assure you, Prime Minister, that we in Fiji cherish the vital and valuable role, and the enormous contribution, which members of our Indian community have played, and are continuing to play in the development and progress of our country.”

Laisenia Qarase

Letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 20 October 2005 (excerpts)

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, vesting every individual with equal rights, was directly opposed to the hierarchical social structure of indigenous Fijian society. Chiefs were at the apex by virtue of their birth and rank. The rest of the people had a communal functional role in this hierarchy.”

Laisenia Qarase

Excerpts from an address to the Commonwealth Workshop in Nadi, 29 August 2005