By Pesi Fonua

Tonga and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have established a new working relationship during the visit of a high-level UAE delegation to Tonga this week.

A Memorandum of Understanding signed by His Highness Sheik Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nehayan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the UAE, and Tonga's Prince Regent, Crown Prince Tupouto'a-Lavaka in Nuku'alofa on Tuesday, February 9, marked the beginning of more active diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Tonga has established diplomatic relations with some Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates but it had never developed the relationship further after depositing the diplomatic relations instrument with the UN in New York.

The Prince Regent, Crown Prince Tupouto'a-Lavaka told the Tongan media on Monday, February 8 that the late king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, and the late Baron Vaea visited Saudi Arabia, and in 1982 he accompanied Taufa'ahau Tupou IV to Kuwait. He said that government is interested in reaching out, "beyond New Zealand and Australia to other Monarchies which are run by their traditional leaders," such as the UAE.

IRENA

The Prince Regent said that the renewed interest in advancing the relations with the UAE followed a visit to Abu Dhabi by the Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele, Lord Tuita and a Tongan delegation, in January to attend the Third Preparatory Commission meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA. Tonga ratified the IRENA Statue in November 2009, and became one of the first nine countries in the world to be a full member of IRENA. As a full member of IRENA Tonga supports the move for the headquarter of IRENA to be in Abu Dhabi.

The one night stop over in Tonga by HH Sheik Abdulla, and an 18-members delegation was treated as the equivalent of a visiting Head of State. The only woman in the group, HE Reem Emrahim Redha Ali Al Hashimy, is the UAE Minister of State. The delegation also included HE Khalid Ghanim Mohamad Al Ghaith, the UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs; and HE Dr Saeed Mohammed Ali Al Shamsi, the UAE Ambassador to Australia.

Because the visitors are Muslims there was no traditional Faka-Pangai, (the presentation of a big pig and a kava plant,) and there was also no alcohol at the reception. But there was a Guard of Honour, followed by a closed-door meeting in the Cabinet Room with the Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Tangi and some of the delegates who went to Abu Dhabi last month. This was followed by the signing of the MOU, then a dinner hosted by the Prince Regent, Tongan cultural entertainment and the exchange gifts. HH Sheik Abdulla also presented a gift of $USD100 to each of the 150 people who liaised and helped organize their visit.

The following morning there were more exchanges of gifts, then a Guard of Honour before the visitors left for Tuvalu, on part of their Pacific Islands tour.

Pacific Partnership

The UAE is launching a Partnership in the Pacific Program, which aims to build and strengthen its relations with the island nations of the Pacific while assisting individual countries in their efforts to address a wide range of development issues. The program earmarks $50 million to be awarded to specific projects and partnerships in the Pacific in critical developmental areas such as education, social and healthcare services and infrastructure.