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President Urusemal accredits Britain's Ambassador Beckingham

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Service): September 1, 2006 - Ambassador Peter Beckingham has been accredited as the Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Federated States of Micronesia.

On August 29 2006, President Joseph J. Urusemal received Ambassador Beckingham's Letters of Credence during a credential ceremony held in the President's Cabinet Room.

Ambassador Beckingham highlighted the fact that United Kingdom has launched a new set of International Strategic Priorities. He emphasized three key issues of significance to the FSM: Climate Security, Sustainable Development and Prevention of Terrorism.

Particular priority was given to the Climate Security considering its "immense significance to all countries." The Ambassador also touched on Britain's continuing efforts in the Kyoto Protocol to which he was looked forward to working closely with the FSM on issues of climate change.

The issue of Sustainable Development will continue to be a discussion to which the Ambassador said he looked forward to working on with the FSM.

Referencing the Prevention of Terrorism, Ambassador Beckingham noted that the United Kingdom put great importance on the international fore and the rule of international law. He stressed that on the international fore "Britain put great store on the work of the United Nations."

On a more regional note, the Ambassador applauded the works of the Pacific Islands Forum and its important role in the region, a role to which the United Kingdom extends it support.

Ambassador Beckingham concluded his remarks by commending the two members of the President's Cabinet who had studied in the United Kingdom: Marstella E. Jack, Secretary of the Department of Justice and Lorin S. Robert, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador encouraged the participation of more FSM students in the British educational institutes.

President Urusemal thanked the Ambassador for his kind remarks and welcomed him and Mrs. Beckingham to the FSM, especially to the Nation's capital - Palikir.

The President paralleled his remarks to the issues presented and concurred with UK's priority on Climate Security noting that all island nations face the challenges of global warming and sea level rise. He applauded UK's continuing efforts in meeting the Kyoto Protocol to help combat the effects of global warming.

President Urusemal noted Britain seat on the Security Council and commended Britain on the Security Council's role of highlighting the need to combat terrorism. As nations with shared democratic principles and values, the President said the "spin of events in the global arena, with respect to the acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, are all the more reasons our community of democracies must continue to collaborate."

Sustainable Development remains an area to which the FSM seeks to learn from the experiences of the more developed nations of the international community.

The President concluded his remarks by encouraging Ambassador Beckingham to also visit the rest of the States in the Federation during his tenure as UK's Ambassador to the FSM.

Ambassador Beckingham is concurrently posted as the United Kingdom's Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines where his is stationed. He entered the UK' Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1979 and has since served in a range of post in various countries.

The Ambassador is married with two daughters.

Diplomatic ties between the FSM and the United Kingdom were established on August 9, 1992.