OMR - Cook Islands

Rarotonga, 8 October 2011 We are in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, resuming our expedition that will lead us to discover one of the most fascinating countries for biodiversity and interesting for the mix of different cultures and populations that try to live in harmony on this land preserving the ability to remain serene and enjoy their life despite the depression that spares no countries and contributes to create competition for work or attitudes of intolerance that have nothing to do with work issues.

Intolerance is often daughter of ignorance and fear. The ignorance of other's feelings, needs, or habits and the fear to loose own particular character for the influx of foreigners. Hon. Wilkie Rasmussen, lawyer, formerly co-president or the joint parliament for Africa, Caribbean and EU-Pacific, when he was immigration minister of Cook Islands, until mid 2009, faced the problem trying to understand the causes and the needs of Cook Islanders and foreigners, rather than applying the law brutally or unfairly. Cook Islands are continuously increasing their relationships with foreign countries. By exchanging notes, The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Hon. Tom Marsters, and the Foreign Minister of Netherland have established diplomatic relations after the full recognition by Netherland of the sovranity and independence of Cook Islands. The relations will strenghten the relations between Cook Islands and Europe. Cook Islands, infact, also as part of the ACP (African, Caribeean, Pacific) Group is involved in negotiations with European Union, with the participation of Hon Teina Bishop, of an Economic Partnership Agreemnt (EPA) regarding Pacific Trade and Fisheries. Cook Islands has also strenghtned relations, together with other Pacific Countries, with the Republic of Korea, to expand the cooperation in the areas of development and to solve problems about environmental and climate change. We have met today, at the 2011 Independence Day Festival and Celebration, the Fijian community, that counts about 500 people, a considerable number, with respect to the size of the island. Their hospitality, their coral singing and speeches, their interesting and funny dance exhibitions, their food, nutrient and very tasteful, expertly cooked, their sense of humor, have left us the desire to know better Fiji and their inhabitants. We feel we have much to learn from Fiji people and their rich culture has many fascinating aspects, probably also due to the number of ethnic groups that all together form the Fijan community and represent the Fiji country.