The Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka graced and boosted the spirit at the headquarters of the opposition, Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) with a quick stop to meet to an old friend, suspended leader of H.R.P.P, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Although the visit was only for a short while, H.R.P.P did not take it for granted. There was an ava ceremony to welcome Mr. Rabuka and his delegation and to reminisce on their time as political leaders when Tuilaepa was the Prime Minister of Samoa.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, PM Rabuka said the short visit was a simple courtesy to an old friend.

"I came as a friend, he was Prime Minister of Samoa and I was the Prime Minister of Fiji, so nothing official at all I just wanted to meet with him because we were really working close together during our times as Prime Ministers," he said.

"I know it's politically sensitive but it is really on a friendship basis."

Tuilaepa during the ava ceremony congratulated and thanked PM Rabuka for his time spent at the Petesa headquarters and thanked his presence saying they learn greatly from him.

"This is what we do, we learn from one another. I'm happy that you have been able to make it to Samoa," he said.

"For this evening, the leadership forum was initiated by three countries, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa and these three directed the future of our Pacific but later we decided to welcome Australia and New Zealand for the reason that we needed a financial backup.

"As we grew, we also faced more challenges but that didn't matter to us because we know our culture and we know that we can always solve our problems through the process of Talanoa. That's the way.

"For us, we all know that when it comes to the international policy, what matters the most to any country is the national interest of a country and it has always been a great philosophy for us to follow to have open doors to welcome our friends who wants to help us and their friends but their enemies are not our enemies and it is great that these kinds of ways has always been very good for us in the Pacific."

The two reminisced on their journey as Prime Ministers years back and the successes they managed to achieve.

Tuilaepa in concluding his remarks then wished PM Rabuka well in the leadership of his country and saluted his determination to lead his people referencing the difference in population between Samoa and Fiji.

Prior to the ava ceremony, PM Rabuka and Tuilaepa held a special meeting in Tuilaepa's office which spanned almost an hour.

Asked about why he visited Tuilaepa and the opposition, PM Rabuka repeated, "It's nothing official, it's a simple stop to an old friend."