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Acting Secretary Pretrick signs Host Agreement between FSM and the IOM

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): February 20, 2012 - On February 17, Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samson Pretrick and Mr. Ashley Carl, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Country Officer for the FSM, signed a Host Agreement between the FSM and IOM at the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs, following the FSM's ascension to IOM membership in December of 2011.

In his official statement, Mr Carl remarked that the Host Agreement is an important milestone in the relationship between IOM and the FSM, which will facilitate the appropriate framework for future collaboration and assistance.

Acting Secretary Pretrick remarked that he was looking forward to the ongoing partnership between the FSM and IOM and commented on the importance of the Agreement in light of FSM's new membership status.

The Agreement acknowledges the IOM's assistance already provided to the FSM, particularly in the areas of disaster preparedness and assisted voluntary returns. Moreover, the Agreement defines the nature of the relationship between IOM and the FSM and provides a framework for IOM to expand its range of assistance to include climate change adaptation, counter human-trafficking, immigration and border management, among other activities. IOM's important work in support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will continue in the areas of disaster mitigation, relief and reconstruction. The Agreement will afford IOM status as an International Inter-Governmental Organization in the FSM with the associated privileges that accompany such a status and are consistent with international conventions and the law of the Host country. This new arrangement has strengthened the partnership between IOM and the Government of the FSM, while ensuring that the IOM can provide enhanced support to the communities of Micronesia.

The Host Agreement was signed in the presence of the Director of the Office of Environment and Emergency Management, senior staff from the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs, other Government representatives, as well as, IOM staff.

For more information, please contact the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs at 320-2641 or the IOM Office at 320-8795.