President Panuelo Virtually Receives Her Excellency Saskia Elizabeth de Lang, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the FSM

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FSM Information Services Press Release

President Panuelo Virtually Receives Her Excellency Saskia Elizabeth de Lang, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the FSM  

PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On October 15th, 2020, His Excellency David W. Panuelo—President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—and the Honorable Yosiwo P. George, Vice President of the FSM, received Her Excellency Saskia Elizabeth de Lang, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in a virtual Presentation of Credentials and follow-up courtesy call.  

Ambassador de Lang spoke at length about the Netherlands’ commitments to promoting positive bilateral relations with all countries, and its efforts to cooperate multilaterally through the European Union and the United Nations on issues of international import, such as the existential threat of Climate Change. Noting that more than one third of the Netherlands’ territory is below sea level, and that several of the Kingdom’s territories in the Caribbean are also threatened by rising sea levels, the Ambassador described how since environmental security threats to the Netherlands are similar to the FSM’s that it would be in both countries’ interests to strengthen their bilateral and multilateral cooperation efforts.  

President Panuelo enthusiastically agreed, noting his familiarity with the Netherlands and how environmentally conscious the Nation and its citizens are. “Throughout the Netherlands, and throughout Europe, we see how genuine you are in taking care of your environment. As you know, Climate Change issues are real; our low-lying atolls are experiencing an inundation of ocean water into our taro patches, which is a main staple type of food. Other issues are extreme shortages of clean drinking water. So, we thank you for the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ role in tackling Climate Change, and for respecting the Kyoto Protocol, the Montreal Protocol, the Paris Agreement, and related agreements, and for aspiring to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.”  

Ambassador de Lang spoke in detail about how the European Union, of which the Netherlands is a member state, is developing a Green and Blue Alliance with countries in the Pacific. The Ambassador solicited the FSM’s input on the Green and Blue Alliance through coordination with the European Union’s office in Fiji, to which President Panuelo noted that he had recently met with His Excellency Sojiro Seam, Ambassador of the European Union to the Pacific, and that he will ensure the FSM National Government explores this opportunity.  

“Ambassador,” President Panuelo said in his concluding remarks, “We look forward to working with you and promoting friendly relations and cooperation, both bilaterally between our two countries, and multilaterally with the European Union and the United Nations.”