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President Mori Held High-Level Talks with Leadership of Israel

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Department of Foreign Affairs): February 12, 2010 - President Emanuel Mori has just completed a high-level working visit to the State of Israel from 20-25 January 2010 upon the invitation of the Project Interchange, an institute of the American Jewish Committee, which conducts educational tours and seminars on Israel for current and emerging leaders from the US and from around the world.

During the visit, President Mori met with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. During President Mori's official call on President Peres, the Israeli head of state seized the initiative to welcome the FSM President and invited him and the members of his delegation to "feel at home in Israel," further referring to the special relationship between the two countries by stating that it is not the FSM's "size" and "great distance" but its warmth of friendship and steadiness of support to Israel that raises or heightens the awareness of the FSM among the Israeli people. In inquiring about the economic conditions of the FSM, President Peres pledged his country's support wherever feasible to the FSM.

In expressing his appreciation for the invitation and the warm welcome, President Mori referred to the cornerstones of FSM's relations with Israel: 1) the two country's shared Judeo-Christian traditions; 2) Israel's support of the FSM as Israel was the very first non-Pacific country to extend diplomatic recognition of the newly born Micronesian nation; and 3) their respective common links and friendship with the US.

The Government of Israel itself had extended various assistance schemes to the FSM Government in the area of healthcare, agriculture, and sports. Israel is also a strong supporter of a recent resolution by the Pacific Small Island Developing States introduced at the UN seeking to dramatize the threats that the PSIDS are facing as a result of sea-level rise and global warming.

To further demonstrate the mutual interest of the two countries to encourage people-to-people exchanges and tourism, among others, a visa waiver agreement was signed by the foreign ministers of the two governments. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert signed on behalf of the FSM and Foreign Minister Liberman signed on behalf of Israel.

President Mori raised the issue of dialysis treatment seeking Israel's support given the large number of FSM citizens needing hemodialysis treatment, and the fact that the majority of the patients seeking treatment outside of the FSM, particularly in Hawaii, is a result of the serious limited facilities in the FSM to treat such patients.

In this respect, the FSM has also proposed the execution of another agreement on technical assistance and economic cooperation through which Israel's technical assistance and economic cooperation would be funneled.

Aside from the high-level meetings, President Mori participated in various briefings and presentations on such topics as the security situation in the Gaza Strip that included an onsite visit to the town of Sderoit, Golan Heights, presentations on education and innovation in Israel's economy, and on public health and initiatives in diabetes prevention and education with a visit to Israel's renown Hadassah Hospital. To commemorate his visit and the friendship between the two countries, President Mori planted a tree in Jerusalem's Forest of Nations.

The President and his delegation also toured various Christian holy sites along the Sea of Galilee in Israel's northern region. Among the sites visited was the Tagba Church, situated where Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying the loaves of bread and fish for the multitude of 5,000 people, and the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered his famed Sermon. The tour of the historic and holy sites ended with a visit to the Basilica Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth in Jesus' hometown.