 Micronesia and United States Joint Committee Meeting held in PohnpeiPalikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): February 20, 2009 - On Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 a Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) was held between a delegation from the FSM National Government and Pohnpei State with a delegation from the US military, including the US resident Ambassador to FSM, H.E. Miriam Hughes. The US delegation was comprised personnel from the US Navy, US Marines, US Air Force and US Coast Guard, stationed in Guam and Honolulu. The JCM comes together annually to discuss security issues and also areas of assistance that the US military is involved in with the FSM. The meeting was facilitated by the Honorable Mr. James Naich, Deputy Chief of Mission for the FSM Embassy in Washington D.C., and held at the Pohnpei State Hospital Conference Room. Items that were discussed included a year in review, Coast Guard Engagement in the FSM, Search and Rescue issues, Homeland Defense, the USNS Mercy Visit to FSM, enlistment, recruitment and statistics, veterans update, the Transnational Crime Unit, the Guam Build-up, humanitarian assistance to the FSM from the Department of Defense, and the submarine fiber optic cable project. This meeting was co-hosted by the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs and Pohnpei State. Next year the US will host the meeting in Honolulu. |