UN reassures Pacific of commitment - 75 years on

The United Nations has reaffirmed its commitment to the Pacific.

Marking the UN's 75th anniversary, its Resident Co-ordinator for the Pacific Sanaka Samarasinha said three quarters of a century ago, the UN was borne out of the ashes of the worst catastrophe the world had ever experienced.

Samarasinha told guests at the celebrations in Suva over the weekend that the world united to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war".

He said countries agreed on a Charter that has served as the guiding principles for the UN and the global community since 1945.

"I would like to re-affirm the United Nations commitment to the governments and people we serve that we will continue to spare no effort to work in partnership with all of you in all these areas as we strive to gather to fulfil the promise of nations united."

Samarasinha said despite many challenges, the nations believe that "what binds them together as one civilization must be preserved at any cost".

He said the UN continued to feed the hungry, shelter those driven away from their homes, vaccinated children and fought diseases.

He said the UN defended the rights of all, mediated peace and brought peacekeepers to all corners of the world and tried to build consensus to save the planet for future generations.

Samarasinha said as Covid-19 wreaked havoc across the world, solutions developed would - to a great extent - hinge on reinvigorated multilaterism and global action.

"Only by working together can we overcome this pandemic because we are only as strong as our weakest link," he said.

"As long as there is Covid-19 somewhere, there is always the possibility of Covid-19 everywhere."

Fiji President, Jioji Konrote, said the UN had stood with Fiji and the region through every major disaster.

Konrote said the UN was looked upon to give people global solidarity.

"Our best solutions depend on solidarity," the president said.