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Ambassador Cole Present his Credentials to President Nena

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service) - President Jacob Nena in a brief ceremony, this morning accepted Timothy Cole's credentials as Ambassador of Australia to the FSM. President Nena told Ambassador Cole that his accreditation signifies another important milestone and accomplishment in the enduring strong relations between the FSM and Australia. He thanked the Austrian Government for the prompt action in accrediting Ambassador Cole to the FSM soon after the departure of Ambassador Perry Head, as it presents no interruption to the good working relations between the two countries. The President assured Ambassador Cole of his strong desire to work closely with the Ambassador and his government in advancing their mutual interests and aspiration.

He added that the FSM and Australia had a cordial and productive relations even before the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

President Nena expressed FSM's gratefulness for the generous assistant, contributing to the FSM's development effort including a range of substantive and cooperative activities attest to the strong bilateral relationships between the two countries, such as human resource development, fisheries resource conservation and management, small business development, to name some.

"We applaud the leading role taken by Australian in advancing the concerns of the region in these areas, and I can assure you of FSM's continued support in these cause," said the President.

The FSM will continue to look to Australia as a resourceful friend and regional partner for guidance and leadership, he added.

The President said he is confident that the accreditation of Ambassador Cole will further strengthen FSM and Australia's solid friendship in the days ahead. He credited the former ambassadors of Australia to the FSM for their dedicated efforts in building the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and thanked them individually for their contributions to the overall state of relations between the FSM and Australia.

In conclusion, he again welcomed the Ambassador and his wife to their home away from home and asked that his greetings and best wishes be conveyed to the Governor General sir William Deane, Prime Minister John Howard, and to the Australian people for their well being and continued prosperity.

In his remarks, Ambassador Cole told the President, he is conscious of his responsibilities given to protect and develop the relationship that is growing between the FSM and Australia.

He said that the Australian Government is a regional partner and FSM's successful hosting of the South Pacific Forum in Pohnpei this year sharpen the focus of the Australians on this important day of the Pacific.

"As a member of regional organizations including the Forum, Australia like the Government of the FSM, is committed to encouraging good economic management, good governance and sustainable development in the region," he stated.

Ambassador Cole told the President, "I also look forward to collaboration with you on regional and global issues such as disarmament, environmental protection and resource management and on promoting mutually beneficial commercial activity."

Cole joined the then department of Foreign Affairs in 1973 and has served overseas in the following places: Lae, 1974-76; Beijing, 1977-78; Bankok, 1978-79; and in Cape Town, 1980-82.

He was in resources planning and liaison unit from 1983-86; First Secretary and Consul in Athens from 1986-89; and Consul, Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong from 1989-92.

From 1993-95, he was Director, Ministerial Liaison Section in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Since August 1995, Cole has been the Counselor and Consul-General to Switzerland at the Australian permanent mission in Geneva.

Ambassador Cole was born in 1943 and is married with two sons.

He replaces Ambassador Perry Head who left the FSM early this month to his new post as the Australian High Commissioner in Vanuatu.