Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

Congress confirms deputies for FSM overseas missions

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): May 28, 2011 - The Seventeenth Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, this morning, approved the nomination listing submitted by President Emanuel Manny Mori for the Deputy Chiefs of Mission for the overseas posts and embassies.

During Congress' meeting with President Mori at the beginning of the session, the President had stressed the urgency of securing the positions to "maintain the stability of FSM's overseas missions and offices."

According to the President's transmittal letter on the nominations, the nominees are the current occupants of the positions they are being nominated for and he therefore wishes to "retain these individuals because of their experiences [...] retention of these individuals in their respective posts will prove pivotal in implementing a smooth transition."

Congress had on Friday, May 27th, confirmed the following Congressional Resolutions (CR) for President Mori's nominations for Deputy Chiefs of Mission for the following posts:

  1. CR 17-06 on Jeem Lippwe for the Permanent Mission to the UN;

  2. CR 17-07 on Renster P. Andrew for the FSM Embassy in Japan; and

  3. CR 17-10 on Stanislaus Kensof for the FSM Embassy Fiji.

The remaining nominations for Deputy Chiefs of Mission were confirmed during this morning's session and they are:

  1. CR 17-08 for Carl D. Apis for the FSM Embassy in Beijing, China; and

  2. CR 17-09 for James A. Naich for the FSM Embassy in Washington, DC.

The Committee on External Affairs noted in their report to Congress that the Committee is 'mindful of the need for some continuity in the operations of the overseas diplomatic offices' and urge Congress for the immediate confirmation of the nominations to 'keep the missions operational.'

Following the confirmation of the last two nominations, Congress went into recess to resume its businesses on Monday - May 30, 2011 at 10am.

As usual, the sessions of Congress are open to the interested general public.