FSM Information Services
Press Release
The Federated States of Micronesia Wishes the United States of America a Happy 244th Year of Independence
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—The People and Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) wishes to extend its warmest wishes to the People and Government of the United States of America this July 4th, 2020, which marks the 244th year of American independence. As a Republic which subscribes to the democratic process and the rule of law reigning supreme, juxtaposing Enlightenment values such as the separation of powers as envisioned by the French philosopher Montesquieu, and a federal structure inspired in part by the indigenous Chief Canasatego of the Iroquois Confederacy, the United States has and continues to demonstrate that pursuit of our fundamentally shared ideals of Peace, Unity, and Liberty are worth constantly striving for.
The FSM recognizes that the United States of America began with a dream, and that dream became reality through action and a relentless pursuit to create a more perfect union.
“It is not that the United States is perfect, because no country or society or no person is,” His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the FSM, said in a statement. “Rather, what makes America a global leader is the People’s and Government’s continued commitments to self-improvement. In 1869, the Territory of Wyoming was the first jurisdiction in the World where women won the right to vote; this partly inspired Kate Sheppard of New Zealand to fight to make New Zealand the first country in the world to achieve women’s suffrage, which in turn inspired Susan B. Anthony who helped the U.S. achieve nation-wide women’s suffrage 100 years ago through the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The FSM has maintained this tradition of ensuring suffrage—the unalienable right to vote—is upheld for all citizens.”
“Perhaps the best invention of the U.S. is the National Park. This idea began with national conservation efforts such as through Yosemite National Park as well as state-based initiatives, such as 1885’s Niagara Reservation, New York State’s first state park. Much later, on June 22nd, 1969, the Cuyahoga River in the State of Ohio caught fire—not a typical outcome for water,” the President continued. “This spawned the Environmental Protection Agency and decades of the U.S. leading in climate protection and preservation efforts. Through the Compact of Free Association, as Amended, the FSM has in place similar Environmental Protection Agencies at the State level. At the National level, we are partnering with U.S.-based organizations like Hawaii Green Growth and the Blue Prosperity Coalition to protect our environment for future generations of Micronesians.”
“In 1954, the U.S. Project Orbiter endeavored to begin the work of putting a scientific satellite into orbit. In 1957, what is now the Russian Federation succeeded in launching the first satellite—Sputnik 1. In 1958, the U.S. followed with Explorer 1, its own satellite, and a decade later on July 20th, 1969 Apollo 11 successfully landed American astronauts on the moon, in one small step for man but one giant leap for mankind.”
“On March 4th, 1933, during his inaugural address, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt said ‘In the field of World policy, I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor, the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others, the neighbor who respects his obligations and respects the sanctity of his agreements in and with a World of neighbors.’”
“In my capacity as the ninth President of the FSM,” President Panuelo continued, “I should like to emphasize that, in our Enduring Partnership, the United States has proven to be a vastly reliable neighbor, respectful of our culture and way of life, and respectful of our mutual obligations and agreements as codified through the Compact of Free Association, as Amended. Through organizations like the United States Peace Corps, through individuals like the Honorable Peter Rosenblatt, and through steadfast commitments continuously upheld such as our Nation’s defense from threats seen and unseen, the United States demonstrates that it truly is a good neighbor.”
“In the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the U.S. has provided over $90,000,000 of assistance to the FSM, in addition to the direct donation of hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of medicines, ventilators, personal protective equipment, and testing kits. The U.S. Navy Seabees are working side-by-side with our State Governments to prepare quarantine and isolation areas, construct handwashing stations for schools and public gathering sites, and hygiene facilities for frontline workers. The FSM is grateful and deeply appreciative for this assistance, and the fact our Nation remains COVID-19 free is as much a sign of the success of our Enduring Partnership as anything else.”
“If I may echo the comments from Her Excellency Carmen G. Cantor, Ambassador of the United States: ‘The FSM and the U.S. shall face our hardships together, and we will learn and grow and become more resilient together.’”
“To all Americans: Thank you for your friendship and for our Enduring Partnership,” President Panuelo concluded, “and Happy Fourth of July.”
Find the President's letter to His Excellency Donald J. Trump here: https://gov.fm/files/USA_President_HE_Donald_J__Trump_2.pdf