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FSM and US Held Mid-Year Review of the Joint Committee Meeting

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): May 5, 2010 - Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services) - on May 3^rd, 2010, senior officials from the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States of America held their 2^nd Mid-Year Review of their Joint Committee Meeting at the Embassy of the United States of America in Nett, Pohnpei State.

The Joint Committee Meeting is a committee established under the Amended Compact of Free-Association with the primary aim to addressing defense and security issues and its related agreements between the two countries, as provided in Title III of the Amended Compact of Free-Association. The principal purpose of its Mid-Year Review process is to review updates on decisions, directives and action items rendered by the Joint Committee, and discuss on best way forward for effective implementation of such directives.

Mid-Year Review held on May 3^rd met with an objective to review and discuss action items for the 2009 Joint Committee Meeting, some of which are the search and rescue agreement between the two governments, boating safety requirements for the FSM, navigation aids needs for the FSM states, sharing of statistics on FSM citizens enlisted in US Armed Forces, updates on the Transnational Crime Unit and the Guam military build-up.

The new items that were submitted by the United States officials to the meeting for consideration by the Mid-Year Review Is the possible expansion of the scope of coverage of the existing Shipriders Agreement between the two governments, and the possible development of programs tailored to promote and address the need to efficient transition FSM citizens who graduates from US Military Academies into the public service system.

The meeting concluded with an agreement for the 2010 Joint Committee Meeting to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii at a date to be mutually agreed upon by both governments.

The Federated States of Micronesia was represented by Mr. Ricky F. Cantero, Assistant Secretary for American & European Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Pius Chotailug, Chief of the FSM National Police, Mr. Mathias Mangmog, Maritime Advisor of the Department of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure, and Mr. Berlino Martin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of American Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs .

The United States of America was represented by Mr. William Douglass, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the United States of America, Lt. Col. Jennifer Hughes, Oceania Country Director, Mr. Dave Deleo, and Dr. Susan McClintock, all of which are based at the USPACOM in Hawaii.