FSM Information Services
Press Release
FSM National Government Recognizes U.S. President-Elect Biden & U.S. Vice President-Elect Harris’ Victory; President Panuelo Sends Formal Congratulations
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On November 10th, 2020, His Excellency David W. Panuelo—President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—sent the Nation’s formal congratulations to the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect of the United States of America, His Excellency Joseph R. Biden Jr. and the Honorable Kamala D. Harris, respectively. The FSM recognizes President-Elect Biden as the winner of the recent United States Presidential election.
“As an alumnus of Eastern Oregon University (EOU), 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,” President Panuelo wrote in his letter.
President Panuelo first noted the Nation’s appreciation for the past four years of strengthening the FSM-U.S. Enduring 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, as Amended. 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,” the President wrote.
The President then described the FSM’s keen hope for the United States to return to championing the global effort in tackling the existential threat of Climate Change, which remains the Nation’s primary long-term security issue. President Panuelo wrote: “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.”
President Panuelo concluded his letter by describing the Nation’s faith in the United States to overcome the recent challenges faced by the World during 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. As John 1:5 says: ‘The light shines in the darkness; and the darkness had not overcome it.’”
President Panuelo’s letter to President-Elect Biden may be found here: https://gov.fm/files/Nov_10_2020_HEDWP_to_POTUS-Elect.pdf
