FSM and South Africa Establish Diplomatic Relations

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FSM and South Africa Establish Diplomatic Relations

NEW YORK, December 12, 1996: South Africa became the forty-seventh (47th) country in the world and the first from Africa to formally establish diplomatic relations with the Federated States of Micronesia when Their Excellencies Ambassador Resio S. Moses from the Federated States of Micronesia and Ambassador Khiphusizi J. Jele from South Africa signed a Joint Communiqué on the 12th of December 1996 in a brief ceremony at the South African Mission to the United Nations in New York. Witnessing the brief signing ceremony were the Deputy Permanent Representative, Mr. Tadao Sigrah, and Minister/Counselor Matt Maradol from the FSM Mission and Mr. Craig Daniell, Third Secretary for Legal Affairs from the South African Mission.

At the signing ceremony. Seated left to right: Ambassador Khiphusizi J. Jele of South Africa and Ambassador Resio S. Moses of the FSM. In the background (left to right) are Mr. Craig Daniell, Third Secretary for Legal Affairs from the South African Mission, and FSM Deputy Permanent Representative, Mr. Tadao Sigrah.

Both Ambassadors Moses and Jele expressed the two countries’ desires to promote the spirit of mutual understanding and to develop ties of friendship and cooperation between their two peoples based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and International Law, particularly international peace and security, juridical equality among States, respect for national sovereignty, independence, respect for international treaties, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of States.

It was also agreed in the Joint Communiqué that diplomatic relations between the two countries will be established at the ambassadorial level in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961, as from the date of signing of the Joint Communiqué.