Republic of Fiji’s President, His Excellency Major General (retired) Jioji Konusi Konrote
has accepted the diplomatic credentials of Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia officially accrediting
him as the first resident High Commissioner of the Independent State of Samoa to the
Republic of Fiji at a formal ceremony held today, Friday, 5 March 2021 at the State
House, Suva.
During the ceremony, High Commissioner Elisaia conveyed the warm greetings and best
wishes of Samoa’s Head of State to the President for his “good health and wellbeing
and for the peace, posterity and happiness of the people of Fiji”.
According to Elisaia, Samoa’s decision to have a diplomatic presence in Fiji has elevated
the bilateral relations between the 2 countries to new heights and will facilitate greater
levels of diplomatic engagement. “Today’s ceremony ushers in a new dawn in the
enduring and multifaceted Samoa-Fiji relations which is anchored in mutual trust and
respect, genuine friendship and people to people ties bonded by a shared history and
cultural, social and economic relationship”
The appointment of a resident envoy demonstrates Samoa’s renewed commitment to
strengthen and sustain its close and cooperative relationship with Fiji and the need for
both countries to work together to “unlock development opportunities for expanded
collaboration to further their shared goals and aspirations, and to build ever-closer ties,”
– the same underlying message highlighted in the discussions between Prime Ministers
Frank Banimarama and Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi during their official meeting in Suva
in August 2018.
The strong and explicit backing of the “shared-vision” by both Prime Ministers is a
welcome and necessary incentive, including, according to Elisaia, “the setting up of the
Samoa High Commission in Suva which bodes well for the joined implementation of our
Leaders vision”

High Commissioner Elisaia in his closing remarks said he was “deeply honoured and
privileged to represent the Government and people of Samoa in Fiji during these
complex, challenging and unparalleled times” and will do all he can during his
assignment “to work closely with the Fiji Government to build a resilient more forward-
looking partnership as the platform to advance and sustain our common agenda and
deepen the already strong relations between our two countries”
President Konrote congratulated High Commissioner Elisaia on his appointment and
“welcome him most warmly to the Republic of Fiji” and wished him a “happy and
successful mission”. He reciprocated the greetings of Samoa’s Head of State and
requested Elisaia to convey to the “Head of State, the Government and people of the
Independent State of Samoa warmest wishes for their continued well-being peace and
prosperity. The President assured Elisaia of the support of the Fiji Government and
expressed his hope that the existing relations between the two countries will be further
enhanced during Elisaia’s tenure
The ceremony for the Presentation of Credentials was preceded by the inspection by
the High Commissioner of a 25-member guard of honour by officers of the Republic of
Fiji Military Forces.
Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia is a senior career officer with Samoa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade. Most recently he was Samoa’s Permanent Representative to the United
Nations, New York and concurrently Ambassador to the United States of America and
High Commissioner to Canada for over sixteen years.
Samoa and Fiji established formal diplomatic relations on 10 November 1974

Samoa High Commission,
Suva, FIJI,
5 March 2021