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New Zealand Ambassador Rickitt presents credential to President Mori

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Service): July 20, 2007 - New Zealand Ambassador Craig Rickitt presented his credentials to President Manny Mori on July 13, as his country's new representative to Federated States of Micronesia.

President Mori accepted the Ambassador's credentials in a short ceremony held in the President's Cabinet Room. Members of President's Cabinet and the Diplomatic Corps witnessed Ambassador Rickitt's presentation of credentials.

Based in Kiribati, Ambassador Rickitt succeeds former Ambassador John Goodman to become New Zealand's seventh representative to the FSM. New Zealand is the fifth country to recognize FSM's independence by established diplomatic ties on June 30, 1988.

An establishment of ties which President Mori noted that not only was it significant to the nation, but on a personal note, "a very special one to me, as you are the first Ambassador to present credentials to me since assuming this office."

In their brief remarks, both President and Ambassador Rickitt emphasized the continuing need for regional cooperation to strengthen those areas of mutual interest which included fisheries management, maritime surveillance, climate change and various issues of renewable energy.

On the international platform, issues of mutual interest include areas of environment, climate change and sea-level rise and many more. Both countries expressed their interest in supporting each other in the advancement of concerns of the region and each other.