Laisenia Qarase: Quotes about homeland

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

“Two thousand and five is our Year of Forgiveness in Fiji. Again, we are seeking God’s help in reconciliation and in making the country whole. Each of the great religions teaches forgiveness. That is a golden thread that links them.”

Laisenia Qarase

Additional remarks about the proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission, Address to the nation at the National Day of Prayer in Fiji combined church service http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_4615.shtml, Post Fiji Stadium, Suva, 15 May 2005

“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)

“In 2000 Fiji experienced the greatest crisis in its contemporary history … Fiji came close to complete collapse and anarchy; some form of civil war was a real possibility. This would not only have pitted Fijians against Indians but Fijians against Fijians, and Province against Province. But the country did not fall. It stepped back from the brink. It drew on its inner strength and a vein of tolerance and restraint and began the task of remaking Fiji.”

Laisenia Qarase

“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)

“WTO (the World Trade Organization) is trying to impose equality of trade in an unequal world, but for developing countries like Fiji there is no level playing field, just a slippery slope.”

Laisenia Qarase

Address to the 18th Australia-Fiji Business Forum, Shangri-La Fijian Resort, Sydney, Australia, 17 October 2005 (excerpts)

“While the Constitution guarantees press freedom, it must be used with sensitivity, respect and good judgement in a multi-cultural and multi-religious country such as ours, he said.”

Laisenia Qarase

Pacific Magazine http://www.pacificmagazine.net <br class="br">Reaction to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, 7 February 2006

“"The decision (of the Great Council of Chiefs to endorse the bill) was made in the best interest of the country and a significant milestone in the process of consultation"..”

Laisenia Qarase

Additional remarks about the proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission, Response to the decision of the Great Council of Chiefs to endorse the bill, 28 July 2005

“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

“The shame is compounded by the failure of developed countries to commit enough of their wealth and resources to helping poor populations from developing countries.”

Laisenia Qarase

Excerpts from a speech to the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, 13 May 2005

“"We cannot bring the people together and concentrate all our energies on developing the country when the agony of 2000 is continuously haunting us." (27 May 2005, from a speech to the annual conference of his United Fiji Party).”

Laisenia Qarase

Additional remarks about the proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission

“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

“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 precepts. But we also say that countries like ours should not be held to unrealistic standards, we need time to evolve to adapt and to adhere. Do not judge us by what might be inappropriate at our stage of development.”

Laisenia Qarase

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

“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)