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Speaker Figir meets with Admiral Keating of US Pacific Command

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): April 14, 2008 - On April 08 2008, Speaker Isaac V. Figir met with Navy Admiral Timothy J. Keating, Commander of the Hawaii based United States Pacific Command (US PACOM) in a short meeting in Palikir.

Speaker Figir welcomed the Admiral and members of his delegation and expressed appreciation for the Admiral's visit to the Federated States of Micronesia. The visit was Admiral Keating's first to the FSM whereby Speaker Figir thanked him for the continuing assistance provided by the US Government through its various branches of Armed Forces. Speaker highlighted the efforts by the US Coast Guard in the areas of Search-and-Rescue and other issues within the FSM's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Also discussed in the meeting were FSM's ongoing Fiber Optic Cable efforts, and the military build-up in the neighboring Guam, to which both sides agreed would be beneficial to the FSM and would be another means to further collaborate on issues of mutual interest.

The visit concluded with both sides reaffirming their shared interests and commitment to security and peace in the region.

Accompanying Admiral Keating and his delegation on the visit to the FSM Congress was Ambassador Miriam K. Hughes of the US Embassy in Kolonia. Along with Speaker Figir in the visit with the Admiral were the following Senators: Chairman Peter Sitan - Committee of Judiciary and Governmental Operations; Chairman Dohsis Halbert - Committee on Ways and Means; and Chairman Nelson A. Moses - Committee on Transportation and Communications.