Australian Embassy to the FSM commemorates Australia Day at reception in Pohnpei

By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press

January 27, 2023

Pohnpei, FSM—235 years after Captain Arthur Phillip aboard the HMS Sirius along with 10 other vessels arrived at Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788, the Australian Embassy in the FSM commemorated Australia Day in Pohnpei FSM at Cliff Rainbow Hotel and Restaurant. Invited guests were treated to the music of Kihmo Kanohoe Satiris Roby who was a finalist in the 2022 Pacific Break music competition. The Pacific Break is the Pacific’s biggest music competition, the winner of which gets a recording contract and big exposure; indeed, a big break for Pacific Islands musicians. Kihmo did not win the competition but was a finalist which is a huge achievement as competition is fierce.

In addition to the musical entertainment, Australian Ambassador to the FSM, Jo Cowley and FSM Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs Kandhi A. Elieisar delivered Australia Day addresses.

Ambassador Cowley during her remarks said that FSM and Australia, who are good friends and partners, share common values as democratic countries. Both are dedicated to peace, a rich spiritual life, and prosperity for all of each country’s people.

Australia has a 60,000-year history and admittedly, the indigenous people have been under represented in the 235year history since the first colonists arrived. Each year many protests occur from indigenous people objecting to “Australia Day”. Ambassador Cowley said that this year, the people of Australia will go to the polls in a plebiscite vote to ensure that indigenous people have rightful representation in the Australian government.

She said that FSM are good friends and partners as evidenced by the visit in December of last year by the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and a bipartisan parliamentary delegation to the FSM. She said that visit was an opportunity for Australia to say in person that Australia’s commitment to the FSM is bipartisan and unwavering and that Australia will take real action on climate change, the FSM’s biggest security threat. It was at that meeting that President David Panuelo titled the relationship, the “Trusted Pacific Partnership” after 35 years of diplomatic relations between the FSM and Australia.

Ambassador Cowley told the gathered crowd that education is a powerful connector and that last week the Embassy “farewelled” three FSM scholars who departed for Fiji under the Australian Fellowship program. The scholars will pursue politics, tourism, and computer science. Two more will shortly go to study medicine and engineering.

The Ambassador spoke of recent and ongoing Australian assistances in the FSM beginning with increased air service in Pohnpei, significant funding in conjunction with the United States and Japan for the East Micronesia telecommunications for Kosrae, recovery of oil from sunken vessels in the Chuuk lagoon, and a new volunteer in Yap.

She said that soon to come will be a new patrol boat for the FSM.

Lastly, Ambassador Cowley announced that Takuro Steele of the Australian Embassy would in four weeks’ time, be departing for a new assignment in Myanmar. Lt. Commander David Perry who has served as the Micronesia Surveillance Advisor in the FSM will also in the beginning a new assignment in the FSM. She welcomed Lt. Commander Perry’s replacement, Nigel Williams who was present at the Australia Day commemoration.

Secretary for Foreign Affairs followed Ambassador Cowley’s remarks with remarks of his own. He said that Australia has grown as a diverse nation and have accomplished a great deal as they have grown. He said the Australian achievements have ranged from protecting human rights, and advancing gender equality, to helping to alleviate world poverty, and venturing into philanthropy to aid the disadvantaged with education and health. The country has grown to helping countries to enhance capacity building for sustainable development. They have pursued nuclear disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation, and have addressed environmental pollution and transnational crime prevention.

He said that Australia has not simply aided Australians for Australia but has reached out and touched lives in many parts of the world including the FSM and has become a Trusted Pacific Partner.

He also referenced the visit by Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and the scaling of assistance to the FSM through what he called a “litany of recent bilateral support”, all of which were referenced in Ambassador Cowley’s remarks.

He called the Australian Patrol Boat and expert Marine Surveillance Advisers program a “flagship” assistance program of Australia considered to be one of the best in the region. The Patrol Boat program has enabled the FSM to identify illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in order to try to put a stop to it. It has assisted in guarding against seaborne transnational crime, has assisted in search and rescue efforts, and has supported disaster relief efforts.

He thanked Australia for the leadership role through funding and leadership Pacific Islands Forum which he called the highest political body in the region. He said that Australia has had significant impact in the “Forum Family’s” maintaining solidarity, stability, and unity.

He said that the FSM applauds Australia strength in policy in terms of tackling climate change and that the FSM full supports their hosting of COP31. He said that Australia’s climate change policy has “turned the corner” recently.

Lastly, he announced that the FSM will be working closed with the Australian Embassy in the FSM as it seeks to open its first Embassy in Australia which will be located in Canberra.

Each of the country’s representatives offered toasts to the other at the close of their speeches.

Kihmo entertained guests as they queued up for the marvelously spread dinner.

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