‘We will fight together’ Ambassador presents credentials to President
THE United States and Fiji fought side-by-side to protect our freedoms in World War II and both countries continue to collaborate on issues of similar importance such as climate change.
This was the message from newly appointed US ambassador to Fiji Marie Damour during a news conference at the US Embassy in Suva on Thursday.
“At COP27, we worked with over 190 countries to advance global cooperation on emission reductions, climate finance, and other issues of direct concern to Fiji and the Pacific Island region,” she said.
“President Biden pledged to deliver $11 billion annually by 2024 to support countries in their efforts to decarbonise their economies, advance climate-friendly land use practices, and enhance adaptation and resilience.”
Ms Damour also said the US was Fiji and the Pacific’s partner in defence and security.
“We understand the difficulty of protecting territorial integrity in areas that extend far into the blue Pacific.
“To help, we have signed 11 bilateral shiprider agreements with Pacific Island countries, including Fiji, to allow your law enforcement personnel to embark on US Navy and Coast Guard vessels to observe, board, and search other vessels suspected of violating your laws or regulations within each country’s exclusive economic zone.”
Ms Damour said the Biden administration was committed to being an active, engaged partner in the Pacific - a commitment that was bearing fruit.
“At the Pacific Islands Forum, vice president Kamala Harris announced our pledge to request a 10-year, $600 million Economic Assistance Agreement associated with the South Pacific Tuna Treaty.
Vice President Harris’s virtual address at the PIF secretariat was followed by the US-Pacific Dialogue Summit and the first ever US Pacific Partnership Strategy for the Pacific Islands.”
NEWLY-appointed United States ambassador to Fiji and ambassador designate to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu Marie Damour presented her credentials to President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere at State House on Thursday.
She emphasised the importance of the US and Pacific partnership during the meeting with the President.
“As ambassador, I hope to strengthen the ties between the US and our friends and neighbours in the Pacific,” Ms Damour said.
“We fought side-by-side in World War II to ensure freedom and our cooperation continues.
“Today we work together to ensure regional security, shared prosperity and resilience against global warming.”
Ms Damour’s work credentials includes serving as Consul General of the US consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, chargé d’affaires ad interim (a.i) at the US Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the US Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil and the consular chief at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
With almost three decades of service, she has worked in five different regions of the world and served successfully in a variety of leadership and policy-making roles.
As part of yesterday’s ceremony, Ms Damour also reviewed a guard of honour and proceeded to bilateral discussions with the President.
She later delivered closing remarks at a Pacific Regional UN Police Peacekeeping workshop in her first official act as ambassador.
Ms Damour will next travel to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu to present her credentials.