BIO OF ASTERIO TAKESY, NEW FSM SENIOR ADVISER FOR THE

UNCLAS KOLONIA 000065 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/ANP INTERIOR FOR OIA, NIKOLAO PULA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV PREL FM SUBJECT: BIO OF ASTERIO TAKESY, NEW FSM SENIOR ADVISER FOR THE UPCOMING FIVE-YEAR COMPACT REVIEW ¶1. (U) On April 17, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Office of Statistics, Budget & Economic Management, Overseas Development Assistance and Compact Management (SBOC) informed post that the FSM Government hired Asterio Takesy (Ah-STAIR-ee-o TAK-eh-see) to be its Senior Adviser during the Five-year Compact Review. Post compiled the following biographical information on Mr. Takesy. ¶2. (U) Mr. Takesy was born in Chuuk State on May 25, 1944. In 1963, he graduated from Xavier High School, considered the best high school in the country and the alma mater of most of the FSM's senior leaders. From 1963 to 1970, Mr. Takesy attended the University of Guam and the University of New Mexico. ¶3. (U) Mr. Takesy began his government career as an administrative assistant in the Truk (now Chuuk) District Education Department, followed by a stint in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Headquarters Information Office on Saipian, Northern Mariana Islands. He then served as Chief Clerk in the former Congress of the Micronesian House of Representatives and as Assistant Secretary for the 1975 Federated States of Micronesia Constitutional Convention. Mr. Takesy subsequently held the position of Executive Director of the Commission on Future Political Association Treaty with the United States of America. From 1979 to 1982, beginning at the relatively young age of 35, Mr. Takesy served as the Representative of the Federated States of Micronesia to the United States of America in Washington, D.C. In 1982, he began serving as Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs. ¶4. (U) After the FSM gained independence in 1986, Mr. Takesy retained his role as Deputy Secretary for three years. When the Foreign Secretary position became vacant in 1989, Mr. Takesy assumed the role of Acting Secretary until 1991. He also found time to represent the Western Namonwitto and Hall Islands of Chuuk State at the Second Federated States of Micronesia Constitutional Convention in 1990. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Takesy served as the Secretary of Resources and Development before becoming the actual Secretary for Foreign Affairs (1995 to 1997). ¶5. (U) Mr. Takesy served as the FSM Executive Director for the Joint Committee on Compact Economic Negotiations (the Amended Compact) from 1997 to 2000. In 2002, Mr. Takesy left FSM government service and took the Executive Director position at the South Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP) in Suva. He returned from Fiji in January 2009. ¶6. (U) Mr. Takesy also served as a Board member for a number of organizations including the FSM Telecommunications Corporation, the Micronesian Maritime Authority, and the National Fisheries Corporation. ¶7. (SBU) Mr. Takesy is known to be smart, but also very serious. He smiles very rarely and has a reputation as a tough negotiator. SBOC Office Director Fabian Nimea told post that Mr. Takesy's primary role will be to assist the FSM Government on their five-year review of the Amended Compact with the United States. ¶8. (U) Asterio Takesy is married to Justina Yangilmau of Palau. They have three daughters and four grandchildren. Mr. Takesy is an avid fisherman who also enjoys golf and tennis. DOUGLASSWD