FSM president Panuelo formally congratulates Biden and Harris

PALIKIR, Pohnpei— Federated States of Micronesia president David W. Panuelo sent last Tuesday the nation’s formal congratulations to President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris, expressing FSM’s recognition of Biden as the winner of the recent U.S. presidential election.

“As an alumnus of Eastern Oregon University, I am well familiar with the United States, and in my capacity as the 9th president of the Federated States of Micronesia, I am at once pleased and honored to congratulate you both on your recent election victory,” Panuelo wrote.

Panuelo also noted FSM’s appreciation for the past four years of strengthening the FSM-U.S. partnership, “which is based on shared values of democratic principles, the rule of law, and peace, unity, and liberty. ““It is my hope and intention that, under your administration, we will continue to move rapidly on issues of mutual import to our two nations, including the completion of the negotiations on the expiring economic provisions of our Compact of Free Association. …The Federated States of Micronesia has heard the calls from the United States of America to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and Micronesians are committed to doing their part in maintaining regional and international security,” he wrote.

David W. Panuelo

Panuelo expressed FSM’s keen hope for the United States to return to championing the global effort in tackling the climate change threat, which he said remains the nation’s primary long-term security issue. “Mr. President-elect and Madam Vice President-elect, with respect, I have seen you pronounce that on your first day in office that the United States of America will rejoin the Paris Agreement, and it is my sincere and heartfelt hope that this is precisely what will occur,” Panuel’s letter stated.

He expressed faith in the United States’ ability to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This year of 2020 has brought significant challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of always-precious and invaluable human lives, to economic hardships that are increasingly unequal in the

categories of people most affected. Overcoming these challenges may at first appear to be Sisyphean in nature, but I want you to know that I, and the people of the Federated States of Micronesia, have faith in the United States of America, and the American people, in overcoming them, and becoming stronger as a result.” (PR)