FSM OFFICIALS APOLOGIZE FOR MORI MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLONIA 000062

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP AND EAP/PD; INTERIOR FOR OIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID FM CH
SUBJECT: FSM OFFICIALS APOLOGIZE FOR MORI MAGAZINE INTERVIEW


1. SBU - Entire Text


2. Summary. With chagrin, two close aides of Federated States
of Micronesia (FSM) President Mori invited Ambassador to lunch
on April 29 to apologize for the tenor of an interview with Mori
published in this month's Pacific Magazine. The interview
characterizes Mori as complaining about a lack of American
attention to the FSM for more than a decade. He implies that
China is more visible and active. Ambassador Hughes expressed
disappointment that President Mori would draw such an inaccurate
dichotomy between U.S. and Chinese bilateral assistance programs
or suggest the United States has been neglectful when our
assistance, which exceeds $130 million annually, dwarfs that
provided by all other donors combined. The President's aides
claimed Mori was quoted out of context. They agreed that both
the FSM and United States needed to release letters to the
editor promptly to rectify inaccuracies. Embassy will work with
the Department and FSM Foreign Secretary to coordinate the
letters and minimize public controversy. Aides acknowledged
Mori's limited experience with the press and foreign affairs,
while emphasizing his strong commitment to the United States.
End Summary.


3. President Mori's Chief of Staff Ambassador Kasio Mida, along
with Foreign Affairs Secretary Lorin Robert, invited Ambassador
Hughes to lunch on April 29 to express regret for remarks
attributed to President Mori in an interview in this month's
Pacific Magazine. They claimed publisher-journalist Floyd
Takeuchi had assembled comments and quotations out of context.
In the interview, Mori admonishes the United States to pay
closer attention to the FSM. Building on Mori's remarks, the
article states that "~ the depth of U.S. interest in Micronesia
is uncertain." The FSM will send a letter to the magazine to
protest what it claims is journalistic misrepresentation.
However, this respected magazine receives broad circulation
throughout the region and among Pacific policymakers, and Mori's
message in the interview is unfortunately clear.


4. Ambassador Hughes registered disappointment about inaccurate
information that Mori apparently conveyed, as well as the
unhelpful thrust of Mori's allegations that China is more
active, swift and visible in the FSM than is the U.S. She
emphasized that these two powerful nations are not in
competition in the FSM. Rather, both are committed to fostering
development, although in different ways. Ambassadors Hughes and
Liu in fact share information and have sought to encourage aid
coordination, including with Japan and Australia, among others
in the small pool of locally based donors. The principal U.S.
aid mechanism, which is the Compact of Free Association,
requires the Micronesians to play a proactive role in
accountability at both the state and national levels.
Ambassador acknowledged that President Mori is frustrated with
Compact implementation, particularly obstacles to the startup of
infrastructure projects for which previous FSM administrations
bear substantial responsibility. However, she reminded that the
Department of the Interior had come to the FSM regularly to meet
with Mori, the four state governors and many other Micronesians
to build local capacity and to explore new ways to overcome
logjams.


5. Mida and Robert agreed wholeheartedly that the depth and
largesse of America's commitment to Micronesia, which began with
the sacrifice of American lives to bring peace to the region in
1945, has remained unique, steadfast and unquestionable. The
U.S. Government's recent `Year of the Pacific' initiative had
further reinvigorated U.S. engagement, the Ambassador said. She
reviewed some $130 million of annual grant assistance, which the
United States provides for education, disease prevention,
airport improvements, postal service, conservation, weather
forecasting and rural development, among many other programs.


6. The two close aides to Mori claimed the FSM President was
intensely grateful for American assistance and partnership.
They cited his February visit to Washington, the recent,
historic visit of Pacific Commander Admiral Keating to the FSM
and Mori's "once in a lifetime experience" just two weeks ago on
board the aircraft carrier Nimitz in Guam as the guest Admiral
French, the U.S. Commander of Naval Forces in the Marianas.
These were among the most significant highlights of his
nine-month administration, Mida and Robert said. They also
hinted that Mori was still learning his job and that he lacked
foreign affairs and press experience.


7. The interview with Pacific Magazine was Mori's first
in-depth press encounter. Ambassador Mida, who said he was
present during the long interview, complained that publisher
Takeuchi had edited out core material about the strength of the
vital FSM-U.S. bilateral relationship and had also reneged on an

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agreement to share the text before publication. Secretary
Robert said he regretted he had not been consulted. Ambassador
Hughes indicated the United States would need to publicly defend
our strong record of engagement. The President's aides agreed
to help coordinate release of letters on both sides, with the
aim of acting promptly to stem anticipated public fallout.


8. Comment. Both seasoned FSM diplomats, Chief of Staff Mida
and Secretary Robert were unusually contrite and candid in
admitting that President Mori had misspoken and indeed, may have
displaced some frustration during a time of tension in the FSM,
including Mori's strife with the Congress, concern about soaring
fuel prices, and his frustration with fiscal reform in Chuuk and
Compact implementation. They indicated that they had work to do
to better prepare the President to communicate with the press
and to manage international relations. Ambassador advocated for
better staffing of the Department of Foreign Affairs, where the
key position of Deputy Secretary, which formerly handled U.S.
relations, has remained vacant since the start of the Mori
administration. Mida and Robert agreed to try to strengthen
staffing and to seek approval of the FSM Congress to once again
dedicate a Deputy Secretary to U.S. relations, now relegated to
a more junior official. However, they warned that the FSM
Congress was seeking to abolish the Deputy position,
particularly because it had remained unfilled. Quiet
cooperation on an approach to the release of FSM and U.S.
letters to the editor will help rectify the gaffe Mori committed
in this interview. Post appreciates the guidance on content
that the Department has provided.
HUGHES