PALIKIR, POHNPEI. On September 29, 2026, the Speaker of the 24th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Honorable Esmond B. Moses, received a courtesy call from Her Excellency Sigrid Berka, the Ambassador of Austria to the FSM. Ambassador Berka, whose embassy headquarters are located in Tokyo, Japan, was accompanied during the official visit by her spouse, Mr. Reinhold Pratschner.
The visit follows Ambassador Berka’s official presentation of her Letters of Credence to FSM President Wesley W. Simina. In coordination with recommendations from the FSM Embassy in Tokyo, the Ambassador’s diplomatic itinerary also included high-level meetings with FSM National Leadership, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and representatives of the United Nations.
During their meeting, Speaker Moses and Ambassador Berka engaged in a in discussions spanning critical global and regional issues. The leaders discussed the existential threats surrounding nuclear testing and the deployment of nuclear weapons. Speaker Moses noted that the Pacific region remains acutely aware of the historical devastation caused by nuclear testing, emphasizing that communities particularly in neighboring countries, continue to suffer from the multigenerational effects of nuclear fallout.
In response to inquiries regarding FSM’s challenges, Speaker Moses outlined the strategic complexities of aligning development priorities across the FSM’s five distinct governments—comprising the national government and the individual states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Speaker Moses identified overcoming challenges in fisheries, tourism, and agriculture as top development priorities.
Addressing questions regarding the FSM’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels, Speaker Moses acknowledged the current dependency but highlighted the nation’s interest in alternative energy. While hydro-dams are active, he noted that river capacities place natural limitations on hydro-generation, underscores the need for broader renewable infrastructure.
The meeting concluded with a traditional exchange of gifts and mutual expressions of goodwill. Demonstrating Micronesian hospitality, Speaker Moses extended a personal invitation to the Ambassador and her spouse to visit his residence should they find the time during their busy schedule.
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