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7^th Micronesian Presidents' Summit Held in Chuuk State

Weno, Chuuk, (Office of the FSM President): September 12, 2007 - The 7th Micronesian Presidents' Summit (MPS) was held at the Blue Lagoon Resort on Weno, Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia on 5th September 2007, and was attended by the Presidents of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republics of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau.

Governors Wesley Simina of Chuuk State and Sebastian Anefal of Yap State, including key senior officials from the FSM national government and Chuuk State also attended the Summit.

The Summit opened with the welcoming remark by Governor Simina followed by presentation of official statements by each of the three Micronesian Presidents: H.E. President Emanuel "Manny" Mori; H.E. President Kessai H. Note and H.E. President Tommy E. Remengesau, JR. Among others, notable highlights of the Summit include the endorsement of the Micronesia Challenge Action Plan, and a directive from the Presidents to explore the possibility of establishing a Micronesian Trade Committee. In the Summit, Presidential directives were also rendered for the three countries to progress ongoing sub-regional cooperative efforts on quarantine harmonization, bulk purchasing of petroleum, immigration and labor standardization, maritime surveillance operations, the establishment Micronesian Transnational Crime Unit, and capacity development and resource sharing through existing law enforcement training academies. On the regional and international front, Presidential directives were also rendered for the three countries to cooperate on ongoing efforts to secure such assistance as the reauthorization of the Airport Improvement Program, the restoration of various U.S. educational grants, the Prior Service Program, Micronesia' Joint Representation in Europe, and others.

The draft communiqué was developed out of the Summit discussions and was presented to the Presidents for review and consideration during their Presidential Retreat held after the official opening ceremony of the Summit at Pisar Island Resort.

In the evening of September 5, 2007, the Summit came to conclusion with the signing of a Communiqué, now referred to as the "Kurassa Communiqué", which reflects the decisions and directions of the Presidents. Joint letters of support were also signed by the Presidents to enhance efforts on specific issues of immediate concern and importance to the Summit.

The particulars of the 7^th Micronesian Presidential Summit's Communiqué can be accessed from the Department of Department of Foreign Affairs.