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FSM Endorse Amended COM Treaty

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Service): June 24, 2005 - President Joseph J. Urusemal has signed the amended Treaty for the College of Micronesia as agreed to by the Governments of the Republic of the Marshal Islands, Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.

The three Micronesian nations entered into this agreement on December 1992 in Majuro, and have since had several amendments and extensions have been made on the treaty, which the latest amendment expired on September 30, 2004.

In 1980, The US Congress designated College of Micronesia as the land-grant college for the (former) Trust Territory. The COM land-grant status was extended in each of the Compact of Free Association between the three Micronesian nations and the US

The Micronesia Land-Grant Program which is what the Treaty is mostly about serves Palau, Marshall Islands and the FSM states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae within the framework of the College of Micronesia (COM).

The land grant Programs are:

Extension, Research and Instruction and are offered throughout Micronesia (Palau, Marshall Islands, and the FSM states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae) by the local colleges in these nations, namely, Palau Community College, College of the Marshall Islands, and College of Micronesia-FSM in partnership with the College of Micronesia.

COM is also a member of the ADAP (Agriculture Development in the American Pacific) along with the other insular land-grant institutions: University of Hawaii, University of Guam, American Samoa Community College and Northern Marianas College.

By request of the College of Micronesia Board of Regents and subject to governmental approval, the three presidents agreed to renew the Amended Treaty at their fourth Micronesian President's Summit in Yap on July 19, 2004.

Therefore, the newly approve Amended Treaty requires that the Treaty expires on September 30, 2006.