By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

President Remengesau has asked the House of Delegates to ratify accessions to amendments to two multilateral fishing treaties to which Palau is already a party.
The President transmitted on May 2 the two separate joint resolutions to the House of Delegates regarding this.
The HOD on its first day of the 28th special session on Tuesday May 8 referred the two joint resolutions to the newly created committee on maritime and fisheries chaired by Thomas Patris.
In his transmittal letter, the president noted that there are two outstanding amendments to the Agreement among Pacific Island States Concerning the Implementation and Administration of the United States of America.
The president said that there is the so-called Consequential Amendment, which is extremely urgent, because the United States’ payment of $21 million cannot be distributed in full to Parties, including Palau, until all Pacific island Parties ratify the amendment.
He said that Palau’s estimated share of this sum, for the period from June 15,2003 to June 14, 2006, is $295,431.59, plus accrued interest.
The president also said that, similarly to this, is the Niue Amendment, which provides for an increased total Project Development Fund of $2.5 million from the United States.
Remengesau noted that Palau only stands to gain from signing onto this amendment.
"In addition, Palau should cooperate with its fellow pacific Island nations, by ratifying an amendment which provides for the opening of certain closed areas of the Solomon Islands," the president said.
He said that a bilateral agreement to this effect was reached between the Solomon Islands and the US in 2005.
The president noted that Palau is not harmed in any way by this amendment but it is necessary for the Parties to ratify the change for it to have final legal effect.