By Rachel Pollock
4 February 2010 [MediaGlobal] : The President of the Federated States of Micronesia, Emanuel Mori, and the President of the Republic of Nauru, Marcus Stephen, recently returned from a week long visit to Israel where they were able to tackle tough issues like climate change and improve the economic development and health care initiatives for the Pacific Islands.
President Peres of Israel meeting with President Mori of Micronesia. (Photo credit: Creative Commons.)
“The trip had three goals,” Aaron Jacob, Associate Director of International Affairs and a staff member on the American Jewish Committee, told MediaGlobal. “To express Israel’s and its friends’ gratitude for their friendship towards the Jewish state; to familiarize them with Israel; and to provide an opportunity for them and for Israeli officials to explore together ways in which cooperation between Israel and the Pacific nations can be enhanced.”
Jointly sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, the trip marked a celebration of the diplomatic ties that bonded Israel to Pacific Islands for over a decade. According to Jacob, “Micronesia and Nauru belong to a small group of Pacific nations that support Israel at the UN. Israel and her friends highly value this support and look forward to expanding that group to other UN member states.”
In September of 2009, President Emanuel Nori of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the urgent matter of economic development and climate change. Micronesia and Nauru are some of the lesser contributors to global warming. However, according to a report on the Climate Change National Communication in 1997, conducted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, earth changes severely impact the Pacific Islands with the impending threat of rising sea levels and the possibility of experiencing future El Nino droughts. This will have adverse effects on economic development in regards to agriculture, tourism, and food security.
While continued support in diplomatic relations are of great importance to Israel, the small Pacific Island nations are also hoping to gain assistance with agriculture, technical training, and health care training. According to a report by the Asian Development Bank on the Contribution of Fisheries in the Pacific Economies, nearly half of the formal workforce for these regions is reliant upon agriculture and fishing. In 1997, the Federated States of Micronesia exported 94.7 percent of the total fishery production. However, according to records kept by the Micronesian Fisheries Authority, Micronesia has received over US $170 million for the rights to fish for tuna since 1979 and has had seven foreign fishing agreements since 1999. While resources are plentiful, the island’s leaders are concerned that Micronesia lacks the knowledge and funds to take full advantage of the industry.
Healthcare is another area in which the Pacific Islands hope to benefit from an alliance with Israel. Aaron Jacob tells MediaGlobal: “In their meetings with Israeli leaders, the Pacific presidents and their aides mentioned several areas in which Israel can assist their countries, including providing machines for dialysis, preventive treatment of obesity and diabetes, desalination systems and training programs for youth. The Israeli leaders promised to set-up aid programs in these areas and designated Israeli officials to follow up the implementation of these programs.”
In addition to attending meetings and visiting holy sites in Jerusalem, the Presidents of Micronesia and Nauru also visited Hadassah hospital to meet with doctors and experts dealing with diabetes prevention and awareness. Jacob adds, “There is no doubt that Israel has the capacity to assist the Pacific nations in some of their most urgent needs.”
