Headed by Vice Speaker Berney Martin, a delegation from the FSM Congress was in Tokyo to attend the 20th Annual Conference of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) held from 8-12 January 2012. The delegation members were comprised of Senator Joseph J. Urusemal, Senator Roger S. Mori, Senator Yosiwo P. George and Legislative Counsel Tung Lam Dang.
FSM Congress was invited in 1991 by H.E. Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone, former Prime Minister of Japan who is currently serving as the Honorary President of APPF, and was privileged to be one of the first countries to participate in the preliminary meetings of what was to become APPF, before the forum was officially launched in 1993. Since then, the FSM Congress has been an active member of this international forum.
The overall participation of the 20th APPF was over 340 participants from 22 countries including observers. Urgent agendas such as environment, climate change and regional security were covered at the forum, among many other important issues.
On this historic occasion of the 20th Conference of the APPF, the FSM Congress is tasked with the heavy responsibility of comprising the Executive Committee for two years. The outcome of the next APPF gathering scheduled for January 2013 in Vladivostok of the Russian Federation, will surely dictate the commitment of this important role that our Congress plays.
While in Tokyo, the delegation also had the opportunity to visit the chancery to meet with staff, friends from the parliament of Japan, and supporters of FSM in a small gathering hosted by the Embassy.
