Fiji, Aug. 7 -- Fiji's Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs Pio Tikoduadua has told Parliament it's time Fiji rethinks the scope and purpose of its peacekeeping operations, announcing work has begun on a new National Peacekeeping Strategy.

"I rise today in this Honourable House to speak on a matter that rests not only in the realm of foreign affairs and defence policy, but in the very heart of our national story," said Tikoduadua in a ministerial statement this week.

"The subject of peacekeeping is often presented as a military duty, but it is, in truth, a moral and civic one."

Tikoduadua drew on his own experience as a former peacekeeper to highlight the human cost behind the service.

"I have served in peacekeeping operations. I ...