---

Vice President Alik Receives the Ambassador of Germany

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): August 16, 2010 - On the occasion of his visit to the FSM from August 11-12, His Excellency Ambassador Christian- Ludwig Weber-Lortsch paid a courtesy call on Vice-President Alik L. Alik on August 11, 2010, in the President's conference room. The purpose of his visit was to seek support for Germany's candidature for one of the two non-permanent seats of the United Nations Security Council in the WEOG, for which an election is slated to be held in October this year.

Vice-President Alik welcomed Ambassador Weber-Lortsch to the FSM; he informed the Ambassador that he hoped his visit was an indication of Germany's desire to strengthen the relations between the two countries. Alik affirmed his appreciation for Germany and FSM's cooperative relations to date; he thanked the Ambassador for Germany's assistance in the area of capacity building in diplomacy training, and other technical assistance which has been provided. He said the FSM government hoped to see this relationship mature through the provisioning of more technical programs and assistance. Alik indicated that the FSM still needs Germany's continuing support for issues of importance to Small Island Developing States, the most crucial issue being Climate Change.

Weber-Lorstch conveyed his appreciation and thanked Alik for accepting his courtesy call on such short notice. The Ambassador informed Alik that his Government had approved a Grant Agreement of $7,000 to the Micronesia Seminar (MicSem). The Grant will finance the travel expenses of MicSem representatives who will be visiting selected archives and institutions in Germany to make copies of rare historical photos of Micronesia during the German period.

During the meeting, the Ambassador also indicated the need of establishing an Honorary Consul for Germany in the FSM; as well as the possible creation of a European Union Regional Office in the FSM.

The Ambassador concluded his visit in FSM on Thursday August 12, 2010. He presented his Credentials to President Mori on October 30, 2008, and is based in Manila.