I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Samoa as you celebrate a half century of independence this June 1. This is an opportunity to reflect on your decades of progress and the challenges you have overcome as you continue to build a brighter future.
For fifty years, the United States and Samoa have enjoyed a close friendship based on trust and mutual interest, strengthened by the people-to-people ties between our two countries, particularly among Americans of Samoan descent. Today, the United States and Samoa are working together to protect the environment and fisheries, promote sustainable economic development in the Pacific region and strengthen the tenets of democracy.
I send my deepest congratulations to all Samoans around the world on this milestone anniversary. Best wishes for continued peace and prosperity in the decades to come.
