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President Urusemal meets with UN Secretary General Annan

New York (FSM Permanent Mission to the UN): September 22, 2003 - At the meeting with the top United Nations' official at UN Headquarters, Federated States of Micronesia H.E. President Joseph J. Urusemal stressed the plight of small island developing states, pertaining to the problems of climate change, as well as the importance of the UN and the international community's support and commitment to the upcoming international meeting to be held in Mauritius in 2004.

The comments by President Urusemal came during his visit to New York on the occasion of the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly where he met with the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan.

In the meeting with Mr. Annan, President Urusemal underscored the importance and need for immediate action by the international community to combat climate change. He also emphasized the need for global support for the international meeting to be held in Mauritius in 2004. The international meeting is a follow-up conference to the UN Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island States, and will undertake a full and comprehensive review of the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) adopted ten years ago in Barbados Conference.

Secretary-General Annan congratulated President Urusemal on his assumption of the FSM Presidency, as well as on the small island nations' effort in dealing with security issues in the Pacific region. The Secretary-General echoed the sentiments expressed by President Urusemal regarding climate change, and also extended his appreciation on the existing regional cooperation on security issues in the Pacific Island Forum countries.

Accompanying the President during the meeting were Chairman Isaac Figir of the FSM Congressional Committee on External Affairs, Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin Robert; FSM Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Masao Nakayama and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs Herman Semes, Jr.