VZCZCXRO0122
RR RUEHKN RUEHMJ
DE RUEHKN #0008/01 0410524
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 100524Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KOLONIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2418
INFO RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFISS/COMNAVMARIANAS GU
RUEHMJ/AMEMBASSY MAJURO 0483
RUEHKN/AMEMBASSY KOLONIA 2787

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KOLONIA 000008 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/ANP 
DOI FOR OIA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/10/2020 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EAID FM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRAHAR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS, MEETS WITH FSM 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
 
REF: 09 KOLONIA 97 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: William Douglass, Deputy Chief of Mission, 
AmEmbassy - Kolonia, State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
¶1. (U) Summary.  Peter Alan Prahar became the eighth U.S. 
Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) after 
presenting his credentials to FSM President Emanuel Mori. 
Ambassador Prahar then met separately with President Mori, 
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Lorin Robert, and Acting Chief 
Justice of the Supreme Court Martin Yinug.  The discussions 
covered such issues as security, economic development, and 
climate change.  End summary. 
 
 
 
¶2. (U) On the morning of February 5, Ambassador-Designate Peter 
Prahar arrived at the Presidential conference room to present 
his credentials.  National and state government leaders and 
members of the diplomatic corps watched as the Ambassador handed 
the Letter of Recall from former Ambassador Miriam Hughes, as 
well as the Letter of Credence from President Obama, to FSM 
President Emanuel Mori. 
 
 
 
¶3. (U) Early in his remarks, Ambassador Prahar quoted Secretary 
of State Clinton when he said, "the United States is back in 
Asia" and "we are back to stay."  He stressed the importance of 
the security relationship, pointing out that both President Mori 
and Vice President Alik have children serving in the U.S. 
military.  He also noted that the U.S. will defend the FSM "as 
the U.S. and its citizens are defended - the highest level of 
security commitment we can make." 
 
 
 
¶4. (U) Ambassador Prahar pledged to help the FSM reach its 
development goals.  He promised that the more than 30 U.S. 
agencies working in the FSM would be "credible advocates for 
policy reforms and program recommendations," and that they would 
operate in "an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect." 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) Ambassador Prahar went on to note that the Micronesians 
emit very few carbon emissions, but find themselves among the 
peoples most threatened by climate change.  Ambassador Prahar 
gave assurances that combating this problem is a "top priority" 
of the Obama administration. 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) In his remarks, President Mori said the FSM has a "unique 
and special" relationship with the United States, noting that 
the U.S. is "the only country in the world" that allows 
Micronesians "to live, work, and study and even serve in the 
U.S. Armed Forces." 
 
 
 
¶7. (U) President Mori then turned to the Compact. He called the 
first five years of the Amended Compact "a time of adjustment 
for both our governments" and urged "all of us to further 
improve its implementation."  He added: "While we recognize that 
this [the five year Compact review] is an exercise for your 
government, we hope that your government can benefit from our 
perspective as a partner in the important process." 
 
 
 
MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MORI 
 
--------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶8. (C) After the public ceremony concluded, Ambassador Prahar 
and President Mori returned to the conference room for a private 
discussion.  President Mori spoke first, thanking the U.S. for 
"everything" since the "takeover" of the islands from the 
Japanese in 1945. 
 
 
 
¶9. (C) Addressing the Compact, the President called the first 
Compact "weak" and said the "FSM didn't do it right, frankly" 
(referring to Compact administration).  He claimed the Amended 
Compact made the bilateral relationship stronger and deeper. 
The FSM will continue to work to keep the relationship strong. 
 
KOLONIA 00000008  002 OF 003 
 
 
It won't all be smooth, but the relationship with the U.S. will 
remain the country's most significant. 
 
 
 
¶10. (C) Mori expects the five year review to expose weaknesses 
and show ways to strengthen the relationship.  He hopes the 
review will show the need for timely and improved Compact 
implementation and the need to direct aid to the right people. 
The President referred to former Ambassador Hughes' desire to 
have Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) personnel in the islands. 
He agreed that while OIA is doing its best, implementation could 
improve "with someone on the ground." 
 
 
 
¶11. (C) Turning to security, the President acknowledged the need 
to work on issues such as counterterrorism.  While the FSM 
counts on the U.S. to support development and security, the U.S. 
can count on the FSM to maintain its friendship. 
 
 
 
¶12. (C) In response, the Ambassador noted that relocating 
additional military forces on Guam should increase maritime 
surveillance.  The FSM should be able to benefit from the "last 
healthy fisheries on Earth," and we can't allow the depletion of 
that resource to happen here. 
 
 
 
13.(C) The Ambassador indicated he wants to spend his first 100 
days listening to people and gathering his own impressions on 
how well the Compact is working.  He sees the five year review 
as a chance to make corrections for the next 15 years; the FSM's 
viewpoint is absolutely essential to this process.  The 
Ambassador went on to note the general disappointment 
surrounding the FSM's declining economy and its large 
out-migration.  There is no reason why the FSM cannot be a 
prosperous country, he said. 
 
 
 
¶14. (C) The Ambassador stated he plans to tour Compact projects. 
 Based on his ten years of development work, the Ambassador 
identified three elements necessary for successful assistance 
programs: a) the projects must utilize the community's sense of 
enterprise; b) results are important, just spending the money is 
not good enough; and c) the projects must be undertaken in 
partnership with the community. 
 
 
 
15.(C) President Mori suggested that they could meet again after 
the Ambassador's tour.  The Ambassador agreed, and assured 
President Mori that there will be an atmosphere of mutual 
respect, that there will be no ultimatums. 
 
 
 
MEETING WITH SECRETARY ROBERT 
 
----------------------------- 
 
 
 
16.(C) Next, Ambassador Prahar walked over to the Department of 
Foreign Affairs and met with Secretary Lorin Robert.  After 
congratulating Ambassador Prahar, Secretary Robert introduced 
Deputy Secretary Jane Chigiyal, claiming that her appointment 
demonstrated the FSM's commitment to a strong relationship with 
the U.S. (Ms. Chigiyal worked as the America's Desk Officer for 
many years.) 
 
 
 
¶17. (C) The Ambassador noted he has a very busy schedule for the 
first 100 days.  He wants to visit all the states and meet with 
anyone who wants to meet with him.  "I will not lecture, but I 
will listen, and I hope to meet with you afterwards to discuss." 
 
 
 
¶18. (C) Secretary Robert said the FSM supports the military 
buildup in Guam and sees real benefits accruing to the FSM, but 
"unfortunately" there are elements in Guam and Japan that could 
 
KOLONIA 00000008  003 OF 003 
 
 
"cause problems."  The Ambassador replied that since Guam is a 
part of the United States he can't weigh in on the politics, but 
the Secretary may.  Once those issues are resolved, the FSM 
should see more ships and military contacts.  The military 
people he talked to all agreed on the need for increased patrols. 
 
 
 
19.(C) Secretary Robert expressed his pride and appreciation for 
the bilateral military relationship.  He said that while there 
may be problems with the Department of the Interior, the FSM 
truly cherishes its role with the U.S. military. 
 
 
 
20.(SBU) The Ambassador thanked the Secretary for the FSM's 
support for many of the U.S. positions in the U.N. 
 
 
 
MEETING WITH ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE YINUG AND ASSOCIATE JUSTICE 
YAMASE 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------- 
 
 
 
¶21. (SBU) In his last meeting of the day, Ambassador Prahar met 
with Acting Chief Justice of the FSM Supreme Court Martin Yinug 
and Associate Supreme Court Justice Dennis Yamase.  Justice 
Yinug assumed the "acting" title after the death of Chief 
Justice Andon Amaraich on January 26.  Ambassador Prahar began 
the meeting by expressing his sincere condolences for the 
passing of the Chief Justice. 
 
 
 
¶22. (C) In response to a question asking which challenges 
confront the FSM legal system, Acting Chief Justice Yinug 
replied that it is important to decide cases so that potential 
investors feel comfortable investing in the country.  Associate 
Justice Yamase echoed that sentiment by declaring economic 
development to be the Court's most important role.  [COMMENT: 
Post suspects this answer may have been an attempt to avert 
criticism.  Post previously reported on the case of Bob and 
Patti Arthur (see reftel and previous), an American couple that 
saw their business ruined by the Pohnpei state government.  The 
Supreme Court, with Justice Yamase writing the opinion, ruled 
that the Arthurs must repay a development loan with interest 
totaling over one million dollars, despite Pohnpei's actions. 
Post remains overtly supportive of the Arthurs, and the Justices 
may have wanted to demonstrate their pro-business credentials to 
the new Ambassador.  End comment.] 
 
 
 
¶23. (C) Acting Chief Justice Yinug also revealed some 
limitations of the FSM judicial system.  When asked how many 
judges are in the country, Yinug replied that there are fewer 
than 20 at the national level, accompanied by more than 80 
municipal court judges.  He acknowledged that many of the 
municipal judges not only lack training, but basic education as 
well. Some cannot even speak English.  Moreover, Yinug noted 
that in his home state of Yap the municipal courts are not even 
required to keep records; there is no documentation of what they 
are doing. 
 
 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
---------- 
 
 
 
¶24. (SBU) The warm welcome given to Ambassador Prahar portends a 
good working relationship.  His first meetings with FSM 
government officials produced no major surprises.  FSM officials 
appreciate U.S. assistance, but they chafe under some conditions 
in the Compact.  They hope that the five year Compact review 
will usher in some beneficial changes, including the assignment 
of Department of Interior personnel to the FSM.  They also 
anticipate economic benefit and an increased security presence 
with the Guam military buildup. 
PRAHARP