KOROR (Palau Horizon): July 18, 2005 - Palau will host the Fifth Micronesian Presidents Summit of the three Freely Associated States leaders on July 22.

Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Marshall Islands President Kessai Note and Federated States of Micronesia Joseph Urusemal are to discuss regional issues.

Palau, the Marshalls and the FSM are independent nations that are "freely associated" with the U.S.

Remengesau said Note and Urusemal would be guests of honor at the opening ceremonies of the Seventh South Pacific Mini-Games on July 24.

The summit will be held at the Ngarachamayong Center, where the three leaders are expected to produce a communiqué on regional cooperation.

Remengesau said among the important matters to discuss are the three nations' position on solid waste management and climate change.

In last year's summit, held in Yap, the presidents agreed that their countries are the window to the rest of the world on the effects of climate change, because they are already experiencing the effects of climate changes such as sea level rise, unpredictable weather patterns and coral reef bleaching.

The three presidents renewed their support for the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

They called upon their nation's close friend, the United States, as well as other industrialized countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

They also agreed to establish a priority set of actions for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol once it enters into force.