Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Ambassador Kobayashi of Japan Presents Credentials

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): April 29, 1997 –
The Ambassador-designate of Japan to the Federated States of Micronesia,
His Excellency Jiro Kobayashi, presented his Letter of Credence to FSM
Acting President Jacob Nena, accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Federated States of Micronesia. He
also presented a Letter of Recall of his predecessor, Ambassador Yasunori
Kikuchi, which his Majesty the Emperor of Japan in a ceremony held in the
President’s Cabinet Room, at the FSM President’s Office, in the morning
of April 22, 1997. The Ambassador-designate was accompanied by his wife,
Mrs. Kobayashi.

In his statement, the Ambassador-designate expressed his appreciation
in these words:

“It is my great honor to present to Your Excellency, the Letters
of Credence which His Majesty the Emperor of Japan has addressed to His
Excellency Bailey Olter, the President of the Federated States of Micronesia,
accrediting me as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan
to the Federated States of Micronesia. I also have the honor to present
the Letters of Recall of my predecessor, Ambassador Yasunori Kikuchi.

First of all, I have the honor to ask Your Excellency, upon the instruction
to do so by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, to convey His Majesty’s hearty
wish for the early recovery of His Excellency President Bailey Olter, and
His Majesty’s sincere desire for the promotion of the friendly and cooperative
relations which happily exist between our two countries.

Your Excellency, it is extremely gratifying to see how steadily the
relations between our two countries have developed since the establishment
of our diplomatic relations in 1988. I am particularly happy to be appointed
as Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia when your county is
making great strides in nation building and in further promoting development
and stability under the leadership of your government.

Aware of the great responsibility my appointment brings, I am determined
to do my utmost in the execution of my duties, and to strive for even closer
ties and enhanced mutual understanding between our two countries. I am
confident that this goal will be attained, thanks to Your Excellency’s
farsighted guidance, and the cooperation of the Government and the people
of the Federated States of Micronesia.

In concluding my remarks, I have the honor to express my sincere desire,
on behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, that Your Excellency
and the people of this nation may enjoy continued good health and growing
prosperity.”

In accepting Ambassador-designate Jiro Kobayashi’s Letter of Credence,
Acting President Jacob Nena expressed his pleasure in welcoming Ambassador
Kobayashi and Mrs. Kobayashi to the FSM Capital in his own behalf and on
behalf of the FSM Government.

The Acting President stated that although our Diplomatic Relations between
the FSM and Japan is only nine years old, the historical links and ties
between the peoples of the Federated States of Micronesia and Japan goes
back to the dawn of the century, which have woven a strong foundation upon
which the formal and diplomatic relations today rests, a strong foundation
for strong and lasting friendship. Acting President Nena’s remarks:

“Mr. Ambassador, as I accept Your Credentials today, I wish to
assure you and your government of our strong desire to work and cooperate
with you for the mutual benefit of our people.

I am gratified to note the Excellent State of our bilateral relationship.
As a new country, the FSM needs to learn from the successful experience
of Japan in economic development, in science and technology, and in nation
building. the development of our young nation depends to a great degree
on the continued assistance of Japan in the area of manpower development
and economic cooperation, in particular the implement of the necessary
infrastructures throughout our four states.”

Acting President Nena praised Japan for its annual grants for infrastructure
development, technical assistance, scholarships, and the small scale fisheries
development grants among others, adding that the FSM will continue to look
to Japan for assistance and support in its nation building efforts. He
stated:

“Your presence, Ambassador Kobayashi, is timely, because the FSM
is facing difficulties in its efforts to promote and improve the livelihood
of its people amidst the dynamic changes taking place in the region and
in the world, at the dawning of the new ere called the ‘New World Order,’
the new millennium and the century of the Pacific. In all of these changes
around us, I hope that the importance we attach to our relations and the
long established cultural and ethnic ties between our two peoples continue
to command the focus of our two governments’ attentions.

You and your esteemed government have my assurance for cooperation and
close working relationship. Please convey my very best wishes to His Majesty
the Emperor of Japan for his continued good health and for the continued
prosperity of the people of Japan.”

Refreshments were served following the Credential Ceremony, which was
attended by President’s Cabinet members, the Vice Speaker of Congress,
Pohnpei State Lt. Governor, members of the Diplomatic Community and other
National Government officials. The Ambassador then paid courtesy calls
on His Excellency Jacob Nena, FSM Acting President; the Vice Speaker of
Congress, Honorable Claude Phillip; on Governor of Pohnpei, Honorable Del
Pangelinan; and on various Diplomatic Missions in Pohnpei.

A Dinner Reception was hosted by FSM Secretary of External Affairs,
Honorable Asterio Takesy, at Club Cupid on the evening of April 22, 1997.
The next day, Ambassador Kobayashi and his wife departed Pohnpei for Guam
on Air Nauru flight ON432.

The 56 year old Ambassador was born in Nagano Prefecture, graduated
from Tokyo University in 1963, and studied and graduated in 1968 from the
University of California – Berkeley. His career in Foreign Service began
in 1978, as First Secretary in the Embassy of Japan in Paris, France. He
served in Embassies of Japan in Hong Kong, Pakistan, People’s Republic
of China, and New Zealand, before his appointment as Resident Ambassador
to Fiji. He is married with two children, according to documents provided
by the FSM Department of External Affairs.