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July 18, 2008
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT LITOKWA TOMEING
On The Occasion of the
Visit by Ambassador Clyde Bishop and Colonel Stevenson Reed
July 17, 2008
Your Excellency Ambassador Clyde Bishop, Colonel Stevenson Reed, Acting Host Nation Director Michael Sakaio, representatives of the United States Governments, friends.
As always, it’s a great pleasure to see you again. I extend a special welcome to Colonel Stevenson Reed from USAKA, Kwajalein, and your colleagues. It is always good to come together every so often, to greet one another, and to see how we can help each other out. We should do this more often. As you know Ambassador, Colonel, our doors are always open. No need for an appointment. Surprise me by simply walking in unannounced! Why only meet when there is something to talk about? Ambassador Bishop, as you are a university professor of sociology, I invite you to investigate our famous word: “bwebwenato.” It may not make much meaning to some, but to Marshallese, it is the oil that fuels friendship and comradeship.
In the catalogue of our relations with countries in the world, there is no relation that is more important to, and so valued by us than the ties that bind us to the United States. This, we consider to be immensely profound. It is a relation which we have never taken for granted. We have worked at it, and will continue to work at. We have learned not to be alarmed by petty things, or to be perturbed by apparent differences, or misunderstandings now and then. At times, we have even learned to roll with the punches, so to speak! Our relationship is too important to let these small things to come in between us.
Having said that, however, we are also cognizant of the fact that truly durable relations can only be sustained by frank and honest exchange of views, and established on the foundation that provides for mutual and equitable advantage to all parties. We will not hesitate in sharing with you where we feel we may have a different take on an issue. I am sure you will understand.
I want to take this opportunity to formally express my appreciation to the United States Government, the Ambassador, and Colonel Reed for all the assistance and support you have offered or have provided to the Marshall Islands in our present Declaration of the State of Emergency, and also in assisting us respond to the hardships suffered by our people in Ebeye.
I am grateful to you, Colonel, for coming all the way from your cool Kwajalein to give us a briefing. My only hope is that this time the news will be a happy one. The last time you gave us a briefing, I began to suffer from insomnia, and some people started congratulating me for going on a weight loss diet!
Welcome once again, and thank you all for coming.
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