Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he recently met with New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully and Ambassador Roy Ferguson in Washington, D.C.  The Honorable McCully is visiting the U.S. in a series of meetings concerning U.S.-New Zealand relations as well as ministerial consultative meetings of the Antarctic Treaty Summit scheduled for later this year.  The Antarctic Treaty Summit will commemorate its 50th anniversary since its inception in 1959.  He is also scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton next week.

 “I am grateful for the opportunity to have met with Foreign Minister McCully and my good friend Ambassador Ferguson,” Faleomavaega said.  “New Zealand plays a vital role in the Asia Pacific region and I know that our U.S.-New Zealand partnership will continue to strengthen as we work together to meet the needs of the Asia Pacific region.  Either through bilateral relations in addressing climate change or providing critical humanitarian aid to our Pacific nations, it is necessary that we continue to foster this important relationship.”

 “This was my first meeting with a cabinet member from Prime Minister John Key’s administration that was recently elected in November 2008.  I look forward to working with Prime Minister Key and the New Zealand government in improving this partnership, and, in doing so, highlighting the vitality to assist the struggling Pacific nations that have been impacted by global warming and the current economic crisis,” Faleomavaega concluded.