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President Mori Meets with Congresswoman Bordallo of Guam

Honolulu, Hawai'i (FSM Information Services): April 13, 2009 - On April 7, 2009, President Manny Mori met with Guam's representative to the United States Congress, the Honorable Madeleine Z. Bordallo, on the margins of the Fifth Island Business Opportunities Conference in Honolulu. President Mori thanked the Congresswoman for her continued support of the FSM in the US Congress and offered congratulations on her recent appointment as the Chair of the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs. The meeting highlighted the FSM's initiatives towards the upcoming 5^th Year Review of the Amended Compact, the Guam Military Build-Up and access to veterans' benefits in the FSM.

Under the terms of the Amended Compact, the US Government shall review the terms of the Compact and consider the overall nature and development of the US and FSM relationships including recommendations on ways to increase the effectiveness of US assistance and to meet overall economic performance objectives of the FSM Government. Key players from both governments have indicated a desire to work together on the review with the objective of having a joint recommendation to the US Congress.

During the meeting, President Mori also emphasized the need for economic development in the FSM, conveying to the Congresswoman that at the current rate and coupled with the looming global economic and financial crisis and slow set-up of the Trust Fund, the FSM will not meet its economic target by year 2023, when economic assistance from the US to FSM is expected to end. Congresswoman Bordallo expressed keen interest in the FSM's appraisal of the Amended Compact and its progress toward meeting set objectives. She noted the effectiveness of Pacific-affiliated members in Congress in collaborating on issues of importance to the region.

The President also thanked the Congresswoman for her support of economic and social opportunities extended to FSM citizens working and residing in Guam. He expressed keen interest in labor and development opportunities that the Guam Military Build-Up will generate. President Mori and Congresswoman Bordallo agreed that there is still much to be done in order to reap the most benefits from the Military Build-Up.

President Mori raised the issue of veterans in the FSM and the challenges that the FSM faces in regards to accessing the rightful benefits for those veterans. Congresswoman Bordallo acknowledged the FSM's contributions to the US Armed Forces, a voluntary opportunity offered under the terms of the Compact of Free Association and its current successor, the Amended Compact. She noted that she is a strong supporter of the veterans cause and would be honored to make a case for the FSM from within the House Committee on Armed Services, of which she is a member.

For more information, please contact the Division of Compact Management within the Office of SBOC at (691) 320-6260 or email (fsmcrc@sboc.fm).