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President Mori's Christmas Message

Palikir, December 23, 2009

I have the pleasure to extend on behalf of Vice President Alik, cabinet members, our families, and all of us here in Palikir, our season's greetings and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. On this occasion, please allow me at the outset to thank our Almighty for His many blessings, for His love, and for His guidance as we continue to lead our government and people for these last two years.

I want to acknowledge also the support, encouragement, and advice from our churches throughout the Nation, as well as the important role that our traditional leaders play in our respective communities. In the spirit of the holiday season, I want to thank you all for your leadership, and the cooperation and support that you have given in the name of our people and betterment of our nation.

For the remaining two years of our administration, I would ask that we not only stay the course that we have set for ourselves, but reaffirm and rededicate ourselves to strengthening the ties that bind us together as one people and one Nation.

Specifically, I would ask that we accelerate the momentum now in place throughout the nation in implementing our infrastructure development projects. These include those provided under the Compact as well as those generously donated by our development partners and friends.

Equally important also are Health and Education sectors that will continue to command our attention, requiring resources and support at all levels of government. Climate change and food security are now the subject of much discussion at the global arena, having far reaching impacts on our natural resources in agriculture and fisheries, as well as in our daily lives. The most recent Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, which I attended, only confirmed the difficult challenges we face as a Pacific small island developing nation.

But in spite of all these challenges, I have every confidence in the resilience and commitment of our people and in the unity of our nation. It is for this reason that I seek your continued support in our outreach visit to our outer island communities in the New Year with the hope to further bring your national government to our outer island communities.

My fellow citizens and friends, I want to express our personal gratitude for your individual efforts in making our FSM a wonderful place to live. From all of us here in Palikir, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous Happy New Year.

Thank you and God bless.