FSM Information Services
Press Release
His Excellency Mark Glauser, Ambassador of Canada to the FSM, Presents Credentials to President Panuelo
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On January 21st 2020 His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), received His Excellency Mark Glauser, Ambassador of Canada to the FSM, who presented his credentials. After the Presentation of Credentials, the President and Ambassador met to discuss FSM-Canada relations, including ongoing collaboration and exploratory talks on potential future cooperation, particularly in areas such as Climate Change, conservation, and partnership with regional entities such as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
“Ambassador,” President Panuelo began, “We’re…glad that you will be here for a couple of days to [review Canada’s development projects in the FSM]. I’m highly aware of what [Canada] is doing with Micronesia Conservation Trust, and youth and environment programs…those are good programs, so please do look at them and then we can talk further in terms of future collaborations.”
Ambassador Glauser, who was visiting the FSM for the first time, described how appreciative he is to see its stunning environment. He noted that, having visited Nan Madol, the FSM’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, he looks forward to promoting the Nation’s natural beauty where appropriate. As Canada is bordered by the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans, the Ambassador discussed, Climate Change mitigation and adaptation efforts are a top priority for the Canadian Government.
“We thank Canada”, President Panuelo said, “for being a [PIF] dialogue partner and we thank Canada for your strong position on Climate Change. We say to the world that [Climate Change won’t be sufficiently addressed] unless every country is a part of it. In the region we work through the [PIF] and the [Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program/SPREP], and I think through those mechanisms we can discuss how Canada can best link with the FSM and the rest of the Pacific."
The Ambassador described that, given the common environmental challenges facing the FSM and Canada, that Canada looks forward to deepening its partnership with the FSM and the Pacific. Ambassador Glauser had scheduled meetings with several of the FSM National Government’s line agencies (e.g. the Department of Resources & Development) to accomplish this purpose.
The meeting ended on a positive note, with President Panuelo advising that the FSM will “do our best to support Canada and Canadian interests”, particularly where such support is in the interest of the FSM, the Pacific, and the World as a whole.