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FSM Submits Independent Report on First Five Years of Amended Compact to US Congress

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Office of SBOC): March 15, 2012 - After an overly extended course of exchanges between key officials from the FSM and US Governments, the FSM National Government has finally submitted a report on the first five years of the Amended Compact to the United States Congress.

Section 104(h)(2) of the Amended Compact mandates a comprehensive review every five years on the progress of the treaty. The reviews are meant to assess the overall effectiveness of US assistance and its use by the FSM in advancing toward the goal of increased self-reliance by the expiration date of US financial assistance in 2023. The initial review covers the period from 2004 through 2008 and was due at the end of December 2009. In light of this mandate, the Mori Administration established the Compact Review Committee by Presidential Order in 2007, with the primary tasks of: a) assessing the FSM's progress in meeting its development objectives under the Amended Compact; and b) compiling a list of comments and recommendations to be made by the FSM to the US Executive Branch on its mandated review of the Amended Compact and eventual report to the US Congress. The CRC assumed the additional task of developing the FSM's own report of the first five years of the Amended Compact.

The FSM's Independent Report was submitted to Chairmen Jeff Bingaman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Doc Hastings of the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, who have oversight responsibilities on insular affairs. In President Mori's letter to the Chairmen, he noted that while the Amended Compact delineates that the FSM would be given the opportunity to comment on the US Report, it is not required itself to provide a report. Nonetheless, an FSM Independent Report is being shared to provide a more comprehensive, internal perspective on implementation of the Amended Compact. An indication was also made that the FSM fully intends to provide comments on the US Administration's Report once it is received.

For further information or to download a copy of the FSM's Independent Five Year Review Report, visit the Office of SBOC's website (www.sboc.fm), call the Division of Compact Management at (691) 320-6260 or email Suzanne Lowe Gallen, slowe@sboc.fm.