Taipei Times: After two terms in office, you will be stepping down in November, what will your legacy be?
President Kuniwo Nakamura: This will be my 31st year in government.I started working after college for the government and then the legislative body for close to 20 years, then one term as vice president and two terms as president.
When I first began my presidency in 1993, Palau was not yet independent. But after a year and half, I was able to bring my country to independence on October 1, 1994. I don't know what legacy I will leave, but I know I am a president of the grassroots. I've always been very careful and looked after the interests of the grassroots -- not for political, but practical reasons. I always believed that in any society, the grassroots need the most help.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
TT: Why do you describe yourself as a president of the grassroots?
KN: I've always been grassroots myself. My father is Japanese who came to Palau after the end of WWI. I come from a very big family, there were eight of us and conditions after WWII were different than what you experience today.
Society is like a pyramid [in underdeveloped countries], the lower you go, the more people you find. A lot of people in many societies [now] fall into this category. Palau was, and up to now is still, a pyramid.
It is not easy to have someone of Japanese descent be president. I think I've been elected twice as president because of what I do and not what I am. So, what legacy? I think the people will look at me as a simple politician and a simple president of a small country who did his best.
TT: From how you described yourself as a grassroots president , it seems you have a lot of similarities with President Chen Shui-bian (
KN: He is the man of the hour. I met him but have not had a chance to get to know him. I've been doing a lot of reading about him, he seems to have gone through a lot of interesting experiences also. I think he looks to be very full of energy ... he is right for this time and this period in Taiwan's history.
TT: What do you hope the next president of Palau will do for the country and what are the people's expectations?
KN: I am going to hang up my gloves because the Constitution sets a two-term limit. But this does not mean I don't have the fire inside me to serve my people again. The fire is still burning (laughs).
To use the coconut tree as an example, the only reason why they grow taller is because the old leaves fall and I may be one of the old leaves that must fall to the ground so the trunk can grow taller.
So far, four presidential hopefuls have announced their candidacy. Each one of them has their own unique qualities. I have not announced support for anybody [note: there are no political parties in Palau, endorsements are made on a personal basis] but I work very well with my current vice president ... he is very experienced.
Palau is a very stable society. We have a very good system of government in place that co-exists very well with our traditional system of government.
I don't think we will get into a situation like the one Fiji is in, we have a check-and-balance system.
TT: One of the concerns among the Palauan people is the US$500 million in aid under the Free Compact of Association is due to run out in 2009. How will the government deal with this problem?
KN: The Compact fund (signed between Palau and the US when the country became independent in 1994) was never meant to last forever and it was never meant for our government to rely on it [the aid currently accounts for half of Palau's annual budget of around US$55 million]. The funds were intended to jump-start our economy, to construct basic economic structures so our economy could take off, and that's exactly what I have been doing since 1995; we have improved and expanded our infrastructure in every area, especially economically. Health, social and education systems have also been continuously improved. I'm quite confident that by the time the Compact expires in 2009, Palau will be able to support its own government ... fly on our own fuel without too much assistance from the outside.
TT: What role does Taiwan play in aiding Palau's development? What are the terms and conditions of Taiwan's economic package?
KN: We have been fortunate to receive some grants from Taiwan for infrastructure in the remote islands. So far I have been successful in getting US$10 million in grants for various infrastructure projects, especially air strips on remote islands. We have secured US$20 million in soft loans at 3.5 percent interest for about 20 years.
I have also secured the necessary legal mandate, our Congress has approved the package and I am now working on the final funding requirement and I am sure I can get it.
TT: With Taiwan's new government, how would you further strengthen bi-lateral relations between the two countries?
KN: We have embassies in Japan and the US now. I've been looking at different places today, very soon I will open an embassy in the ROC, possibly sometime this summer.
Taiwan -- the ROC -- must be respected in the international arena. It is a very important partner not only for the region but for the whole world.
This diplomatic relationship is not one-sided, I don't just go to Taiwan and ask, I want the ROC to come and ask us for assistance and they know our limitations ... they can't say "Mr President, would you build a bridge for us?" (laughs). But we have strengths too. We have votes in some of the international forums, we are a member of the UN.
TT: You have many interests. You said you love numbers and I know you are a very good fisherman, what would you like to do when you retire from office?
KN: I will never retire (laughs). Age-wise, I am not that old, I will be 57 in November. Like I said before, I still have the burning desire in my heart. I will be a very good watchdog for the next government. I told Palau's presidential candidates "you better do a good job because I will watch you guys very carefully."
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