Though Pacific Islands have mixed results with trying to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Fiji has performed a bit better.

 Fiji's permanent representative to the UN Peter Thomson said while Fiji had done well compared to other Pacific islands, it was important to note there were mixed results all over the world.

 Thomson, as president of the UNFPA/UNDP/United Nations Office for Project Services, is leading an executive board visit to Fiji.

 “It’s been mixed results from the Pacific islands to be frank,” he said.

 “Fiji generally has done better than most in the Pacific islands and all around the world, there has been a mixed bag.

 “You can't say anybody has scored the goal overall but we've done reasonably well and it's a question of how we improve on that.”

 He said Fiji made a lot of progress in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation work but admitted there was a need to put more work on the disaster risk aspect of climate change.

 With the MDGs 2015 deadline fast approaching and the world now looking at post 2015 measures, Thomson said it was time to assess and improve on our shortcomings.

 He explained the Sustainable Development Goals would replace the MDG's post 15 and be the focus for humanity in the next 15 years.

 “This is something we will go into during our visit in terms of meeting with the UN, UNDP and the UNFPA and other agencies here as to why there has been a mixed bag and why we can do better in the sustainable development goals, which will be part of the post 2015 goals.

 “So that is going to be one of the points of this visit seeing where we can do better — remembering that the UN is not everything — the national governments need to meet their own challenges.

 “The process has been underway for about 18 months now.

 “We are getting down now to finding out what those goals will be and we'll know by September this year what they are.”

 Meanwhile, Fijian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Ratu Inoke Kubuabola says most countries in the region will not achieve their millennium development goals (MDGs).

 Speaking to the executive board of the United Nations Development Co-operation (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Suva Tuesday, he said “ you would have known that our ability to achieve MDGS differ from country to country.”

 “Most of us will not be able to achieve the MDGs for many reasons, including our vulnerability to climate change and external shocks,” he said.

 “We hope that your visit will look into this matter seriously as we continue to engage in the discussions of the post-2015 goals.”

 “The climate change would continue to be one of the major development challenges for the region. “It continues to be a threat to our sustainability,” he said.