U.S. Identifies Areas For Closer Pacific Cooperation
May 10, 2007

(Reprinted from Pacific magazine)

By Suzanne Chutaro in Washington D.C.
Thursday: May 10, 2007

United States Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes met briefly with Pacific island leaders gathered in Washington this week to affirm America s engagement in the Pacific through its public diplomacy programs.

Hughes, as a close advisor to President Bush, leads the U.S. s efforts on educational, cultural and international affairs.

She has proposed three areas of focus for increased U.S. engagement in the region: increased educational and cultural exchanges; improved communication networks and technology; and humanitarian programs.

We want to help you empower your disadvantaged members of your society, Hughes has told the leaders.

Most of the programs she said will be directed at and accessible to non-government organizations, saying the U.S. wants to make a real difference at the grassroots level and in particular improving the status of women.

America really wants to partner with you to improve the lives of your people, she said. We want to focus on people to people programs to foster life long friendships,

Hughes wants the island nations to greater utilize Ambassadors who are posted in their respective countries or the regional embassy in Suva. And she has encouraged US Ambassadors to be more proactive and engage with their host countries to open the channels of communication.

Hawaii State Governor Linda Lingle, speaking as a PICIL member, told Hughes that her comments were inviting, particularly in terms of addressing regional security issues through improved educational opportunities. Lingle alluded to the idle hands theory; that if economies are not strong and people don t have hope, then it presents a soft target for risk.

Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. applauded Hughes saying that her engagement proposal is a great sign of that this year is the Year of the Pacific.
Currently, he said the US has not been communication enough with the region but her proposal addresses this issue.

It doesn t matter how big or small (the US s level of engagement is) it s the thought behind the deed, he said.