The Independent Diplomat has appointed Dr. Mahendra Kumar, as Climate Diplomacy Advisor, to assist the RMI with efforts in its “New Climate Diplomacy” strategy, aimed at mainstreaming climate change into its foreign policy.  Dr. Kumar is currently working at the Office of the President and will assist the Office of the President, relevant Ministers and senior Government officials with preparations for RMI’s hosting of the 2013 Pacific Islands Forum Summit, in particular aspects relating to climate change, energy and sustainable development.

During a presentation of credential ceremony at the Cabinet conference room Thursday, President Christopher J. Loeak accepted the Letter of Credence of French Ambassador Gilles Garachon. The special ceremony was witnessed by members of the Cabinet, government officials, and the Honorary Consul of France.

Severe drought conditions in the northern islands/atolls of the Republic of the Marshall Islands has prompted the Government to issue a State of Emergency. After relevant action plans were formalized, President Christopher J. Loeak signed the declaration on April 19, 2013, for the immediate mobilization of people and resources to mitigate the impact of drought in the affected islands/atolls.

RMI President Christopher J. Loeak left Majuro today for his first state visit to Republic of China (Taiwan) since he assumed the Marshall Islands’ Presidency in January of last year.  The President, First  Lady Lieom Anono Loeak, and delegation are visiting Taiwan March 26-30 at invitation of ROC President Ma Ying-jeou. They are accompanied by ROC (Taiwan) Ambassador to the RMI, Ambassador George T.K. Li.

To mark International Women’s Day, a ceremonial program was organized by The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the International Women’s Day coordinating committee at Delap Park on Saturday, March 9, 2013. First Lady Lieom Anono Loeak delivered the keynote address, expressing felicitation to women for their dedicated services towards society and for preserving and encouraging cultural heritage and custom.

Executive Director Bernardita L. Catalla of the Asian and Pacific Affairs Office from the Republic of Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs paid a courtesy call on President Christopher J. Loeak during an official mission to the Republic of the Marshall Islands,  March 6-9, 2013.

Republic of the Marshall Islands President Christopher J. Loeak yesterday signed a Proclamation that declares March 8 of every year as Women’s Day in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, in recognition of the many achievements and contributions made by Marshallese women to the country’s nation building and other aspects of the Republic’s continued growth.

During a credential ceremony held February 19, at the Cabinet Conference Room, President Christopher J. Loeak accepted the Letter of Credence and welcomed Republic of India Ambassador Amit Dasgupta to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and to his new post as India Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Republic of the Marshall Islands President Christopher J. Loeak accepted the Letter of Credence and welcomed Sweden Ambassador Lars Vargo to his new post as Sweden Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands during a ceremony held last week in the RMI Cabinet Conference room.

This week the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands has sought Pacific Islands Forum Leaders endorsement of the proposed dates of the 44th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders and Related Meetings to be held in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Forum Secretary General, Mr. Tuiloma Neroni Slade, is expected to visit the Marshall Islands  February20-22 to discuss further preparations and plans for the meetings.

The First Lady of the Marshall Islands, Lieom Anono Loeak, has been spearheading efforts to mobilize community-wide clean-up and beautification activities around Majuro and the outer islands. This initiative by the First Lady is an attempt to revive the Marshallese people’s connection to their lands and environment.

The implementation of this project is both timely and important as the Republic of the Marshall Islands is poised to host the 44th Pacific Islands Forum and related meetings later this year.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is entering an important stage in its nationhood, said RMI President Christopher J. Loeak in his State of the Nation Address on January 7, 2013 during the opening of the 34th Constitutional Regular Session of the Nitijela. “As we take stock of the progress and challenges we face together since attaining our sovereignty, let us be mindful of both our successes and trials as we move forward together.”

The English version of the Address, handed out to the diplomatic corp and others that attended the Luncheon that took place after the Nitijela opening, follows:

The Marshall Islands’ welcomed regional and local leaders this week for the Micronesian Chief Executives Summit (MCES). The 18th session convened at the International Conference Center in Delap, Majuro on Thursday, followed by the Leaders’ retreat on Friday.

Representing the Honorable Eddie Baza Calvo, Governor of Guam and Chairman of the 17th MCES, his Designated Representative Joanne Brown turned over the Chairmanship to RMI President Christopher J. Loeak as Chairman of the 18th MCES.

The Office of the President hosted the 2012 President’s Day Awards Ceremony at the Cabinet Conference Room today. President Christopher J. Loeak gave recognition and prizes to recipients that participated and demonstrated distinction during the President’s Day competitions that were held on November 17, 2012.

Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) President Christopher J. Loeak will be joining other Pacific ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) Leaders for the Special non-forum ACP Meeting at the Royal Papua Yacht Club today Wednesday 21 November.

The PACP member countries include the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. This will be Fiji's first time since its suspension in 2009 to participate in PACP meeting.

In a congratulatory letter, Republic of the Marshall Islands President Christopher J. Loeak extended on behalf of the RMI people and Government sincere felicitations to United States President Barack Obama on his re-election.

Republic of the Marshall Islands President Christopher J. Loeak returned to Majuro yesterday from his trip to Hawaii where he held town hall meetings with the Marshallese communities in Maui and Kona last week to address and discuss compact impact and other issues. Hawaii is the one of the first port of entries to the United States mainland by RMI citizens and is also home to the second largest Marshallese residing in the US.

A new agreement between the governments of two small Pacific nations will provide much needed airline services within the region before the end of the year. The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Republic of Nauru (RON) Governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a Commercial Arrangement in Respect of Air Transport  Services between and beyond the two countries by the National carrier of Nauru, Our Airline.

Republic of the Marshall Islands President Christopher J. Loeak made the first presidential visit to the Marshallese community of Maui last week during a community town hall meeting. President Loeak was accompanied by First Lady Lieom A. Loeak, Consul General Noda Lojkar, and Chief of Staff Christopher de Brum. Maui is home to the second highest Marshallese population in the state of Hawaii.

National Message by His Excellency Christopher Jorebon Loeak, President of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, on the occasion of the World Food Day, October 16, 2012:

I am indeed privileged and honored for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you on this occasion of the 67th anniversary of World Food Day.  On this day October 16, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and many countries throughout the world will be giving recognition to the observance of World Food Day.  The occasion serves to bring into focus the existence of poverty and hunger present worldwide.  October 16 holds special significance to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, since it was on this date in 1945 that the organization was formed.  Now in its 67th year of existence, the FAO continues in its quest to eradicate hunger throughout the world. Entire address and Marshallese version follow.

The Minister in Assistance to the President with Cabinet portfolio for Environment, Conservation and Energy, Honorable Tony A. deBrum, arrived Hyderabad, India on Friday, October 12, 2012, to join other environment ministers from hundred and ninety-three member countries of parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) at its Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 11). According to Minister deBrum, “This major, global biodiversity event comes at an appropriate time when countries and people around the world are meeting to put to practical plans of action the sustainable development frameworks and agendas adopted at the Rio+20 earlier this year in Brazil. The Republic of the Marshall Islands will actively join in the global discussions on biodiversity and development between now and the next COP meeting”.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Government has strongly condemned what is described as a terrorist attack against the Consulate of the United States in the Libyan city of Benghazi which caused the death of US Ambassador Chris Stevens and other US diplomatic staff last week.

In a letter to the US President Barack H. Obama on behalf of the RMI Government and people, dated September 17, 2012, RMI President Christopher J. Loeak conveyed sympathy and condolences to the families of the slain diplomats.

The nation’s parliament, the Nitijela, also passed yesterday a resolution which condemned the attacks in Libya.

President Christopher J. Loeak attended the "21st Smaller Island States (SIS) Leaders' Meeting" chaired by the Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna at the Edgewater Resort. The one-day meeting was an annual gathering of SIS leaders to discuss a range of issues significant and specific to SIS to ensure that issues are prioritized in the annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Communique. The Cook Islands Government hosted this year's 43rd PIF.

Republic of the Marshall Islands President Christopher J. Loeak attended the “3rd Engaging with the Pacific Leaders’ meeting” hosted by the Government of Fiji.  The two-day meeting began with a formal opening ceremony compromising honor guards and welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister of Fiji, Commodore Josaiea V. Bainimarama.  At the plenary session, Prime Minister Bainimarama informed Leaders that Fiji values its relationship with its Pacific neighbors and called on greater unity for the benefit of all Pacific Islands.