The newly appointed Cook Islands High Commissioner to Fiji, Jim Armistead presented credentials to Major General Jioji Konusi Konrote (retired), (now former) President of the Republic of Fiji on November 3.

High Commissioner Armistead was accompanied by executive officer, Annie Kaufononga of the High Commission to the credentials ceremony which was one of the last assignments of the Fijian president before he left the office.

The Presentation of Credentials took place at the former President’s office in a formal ceremony involving an inspection of the guard of honour and a bilateral discussion with President Konrote.

According to a government statement, High Commissioner Armistead presented a letter of credence from Queen’s Representative Sir Tom Marsters to President Konrote. Sir Tom Marsters’ letter highlighted the “relations of sincere friendship and good accord that exists between the Cook Islands and the Republic of Fiji”. Furthermore, the Queen’s Representative is confident that the first resident High Commissioner would “serve to maintain and strengthen the harmonious relations and close friendship” that exists between our two countries.

President Konrote was pleased to receive the credentials and warmly welcomed the High Commissioner to Fiji and wished him a happy and successful mission. The President also conveyed his warmest wishes to the Queen’s Representative and the people of the Cook Islands for their continued wellbeing, peace and prosperity.

Following the presentation, they had a cordial discussion to further advance the bilateral relationship between Fiji and the Cook Islands. They discussed numerous areas of existing cooperation including issues relating to climate change, regionalism, tourism, sports and economic opportunities.

High Commissioner Armistead reflected on the new role by saying “I am extremely honoured to be able to represent the people of the Cook Islands in Fiji and carry out the duties entrusted in me by the Government and the Ministry.” “I am reassured that our relationship with Fiji sits on strong foundations and a shared history that encompass social, economic, environmental and cultural bonds. My focus and goal is to build on these partnerships to make them even more successful and sustaining.”

Tepaeru Herrmann, the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, noted that the establishment of the High Commission had been planned for some time prior to the pandemic. Although the Mission was set up in January 2020, Covid-19 had impacted on plans and necessitated a more measured approach to resourcing and staffing, the statement said.

Herrmann highlighted that despite the challenges of a setting up a new Mission during a pandemic, the benefits of having an office in Suva cannot be understated.

She underlined the importance of “Fiji as a central hub in the Pacific for regional politics, regional agencies, development organisations, trade opportunities, and an important labour market for the Cook Islands”.

Herman added that “there are significant advantages that regionalism brings and we need to be an integral part of the conversations that are occurring around a new 2050 Regional strategy as well as discussions being prompted by a comprehensive review of the regional architecture. We want to be in a position that our interests are reflected in strategic discussions that will impact the region in the years to come”.

Armistead started with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration in 2013 as the director for the Pacific and Regional Division. He relocated to Suva in January 2020 to take up the role as the Chargé d’Affaires which was primarily responsible for establishing the first Cook Islands High Commission in the Republic of Fiji.