President Mori attends Small Islands Developing States international conference, Samoa

Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
September, 2014

H.E. President Emanuel (Manny) Mori attended the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) held in Apia, Samoa from September 1-4, 2014.   The conference garnered more than 3, 000 participants from members of the United Nations, representatives from the Governments, Private Sector, Civil Society and relevant stakeholders for a four (4) days meeting.  It was the biggest U.N conference held in the Pacific. The theme of this year’s conference is the Sustainable Development of SIDS through Genuine and Durable Partnership, which produced an outcome document, titled ‘SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway and adopted during the closing plenary in Samoa.

In his remarks, H.E. President Mori emphasized the importance of the conference to the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the designation of 2014 as the International Year of the SIDS to highlight their challenges and resilience. He further indicated the importance of partnership to achieve sustainable development. He called on our partners to help us make this happen through new, additional, and predictable funding. He urged our partners to help us build our human resource capacity and also to transfer SIDS-appropriate technology to help build our resiliency to climate change. For Micronesia, we are determined to reduce our dependency on fossil power generation 50% by the year 2020 replaced by renewable energy. President Mori concluded his remark by wishing the Spirit of friendship, cooperation, and the genuine and durable partnership enshrined in the SAMOA Pathway guide us all as we move forward throughout this Conference and beyond. 

In the margins of the SIDS conference, President Mori participated in various side meetings and activities, including the signing of the Treaty establishing the Micronesian Trade and Economic Community (MTEC) with Palau and the Marshall Islands.  The President had also attended the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) side event and, highlighted the FSM’s support to the Micronesia Challenge.

A number of documents were signed at the margin of the SIDS Conference: the National Indicative Program under 11^th European Development Fund (EDF) for the period 2014-2020;a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Spanish Government on common interests and cooperation in the areas of climate change, renewable energies, fisheries, ocean protection, natural disasters, educational and cultural exchanges and others; and the SIDS Dock.

 The President was accompanied by First Lady Emma, Secretaries Lorin Robert, Marion Henry, April Skilling, Director Andrew Yatilman, Ambassador Jane Chigiyal and other key officials of the FSM Government and representatives of Civil Society.