 2012 Joint Committee Meeting: FSM and the USAPalikir, Pohnpei (FSM Dept. of Foreign Affairs): October 3, 2012 - The 2012 Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) between the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States of America was hosted by the US Ambassador to the FSM, Her Excellency Dorothea Maria Rosen and Rear Admiral Tilghman Payne from September 20-21 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Heading the FSM delegation was Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Lorin S. Robert, accompanied by Ambassador of the FSM to the US, His Excellency Asterio Takesy, and various officials from the National and State governments. The venue of this annual consultation rotates between the two nations to discuss and report on issues under the umbrella of the Title III provision dealing with security and defense as provided under the Compact as Amended. On the 20th of September, Ambassador Rosen and her delegation invited the FSM delegation members to Pearl Harbor for a boat tour of the USS Arizona Memorial. At Pearl Harbor, the FSM delegation members met with high-level officials from the Department of Defense and were also given an historical presentation of the harbor, which included a short film on the events leading up to the surprise attack on the US Pacific Fleet stationed in Pearl Harbor in 1941. The visit to the USS Arizona Memorial was solemn as both delegation members paid respect to the many lives lost with a moment of silence. The US hosted a dinner afterward, which gave both delegation members more time to interface and discuss matters of mutual interests. The next day on the 21st, the official part of the JCM proceeded at Pearl Harbor Naval Base with exchanges of views, comments and reports from both the FSM and US delegations. The US side reported on its activities in the FSM since the last JCM in 2011, which included the Search and Rescue operations, the Construction Civic Action Detail projects and the ROTC program with the FSM Upward Bound students, to name a few. The FSM side delivered a presentation on the FSS Unity donated to the FSM by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. The presentation specified on the capabilities of the new boat in assisting the Search and Rescue operations and combating transnational crime in the FSM. Secretary Robert commended the assistance and engagements of the government of the United States in the FSM, especially the Department of Defense, and stressed the importance to continue to build upon the strong and fruitful partnership. On the occasion, Lt. Governor Carson Sigrah, head of delegation of Kosrae State was given the opportunity and delivered a statement on behalf of the people of Kosrae State, especially the family of the late SGT. Sapuro B. Nena. He stated that "Specialist Nena is among many in Micronesia, or the Federated States of Micronesia, who fell victim to the war on terrorism and it is the hope of many in our nation, that these casualties are testimony to our commitment to be one with the United States". |