Ambassador

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 6, 15 September 1977, Page 4

Ambassador

The Prime Minister of Western Samoa, Hon. Tupuola Efi, last week announced the appointment of Western Samoa’s first ever Ambassador to the United Nations and the United States and High Commissioner to Canada. Western Samoa joined the United Nations in December 1976. Her only overseas representation at this time was a High Commissioner to New Zealand. The new Ambassador is Afioga Maiava lulai Toma, presently the Secretary to Government. In a statement to the poress, Hon. Tupuola said it was his government’s desire that Western Samoa played a full and responsible role as a member of the United Nations. “Western Samoa, of course, is a small country with limited resources, but if Samoa is to play its proper role in the United Nations, it is important that Samoa be properly represented in this x international body,” the Prime Minister said. “Accordingly, 1 want to announce the appointment of Afioga Maiava lulai Toma as Samoa’s permanent representative to the United Nations with the rank of Ambassador. “Maiava lulai Toma will take up his appointment in New York this week. “It is the Government’s intention also to appoint Maiava lulai Toma as Ambassador to the United States and as High Commissioner to Canada. These two appointments are considered as

extremely important to Western Samoa in terms of further strengthening the already close relations that exist between Western Samoa and the United States and Canada. “This is an important occasion in Western Samoa’s history because it is the first time Western Samoa will have an active and permanent representation in the United Nations and in the United States and Canada. The Government is confident that this will enable Western Samoa to advance its interests amongst the international community and the specialised agencies of the United Nations. “Likewise, Maiava lulai Toma’s accreditation to the United States will enable Western Samoa to advance the already close political links with that country and to foster the friendly relationships which are due in no small part to the large Samoan communities that are already resident in the United States. “Western Samoa’s relations with Canada are considered to be very important given Canada’s seniority and influence in the British Commonwealth of Nations and its position as a nation that borders on the Pacific Ocean. “It is expected that Maiava lulai Toma will deliver his letter of appointment to the Secretary General of the United Nations and his letters of credentials to the President of the United States and the Governor General of Canada at some mutually convenient time in the near future.”