President Remengesau told reporters that it will be a crucial meeting because the review will be on the table in 2009.
“We will have briefing on Compaq of association I wrote a letter to president-elect Johnson Toribiong and Vice President Kerai Mariur that our law firm in Washington dc and our Compaq advisers working with Chief of Staff Billy Kuartei to have an opportunity…and have requested that dec 16, 17 and 18 of December to make that important briefing on the Compaq association where we are right now, what we have accomplished and where we need to go from here, “ the president said.The president said that unlike the Compact between the U.S. and two other freely associated states, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Palau do not have a continuing resolution which will continue assistance to these nations even without completing the negotiations.“For Palau everything comes to an end unless there is a piece legislation in place,” Remengesau said.The president said that a good lengthy process of the negotiation has already been accomplished which is an audit from the U.S.’s General Accounting Office.Remengesau said that the briefing will be between President-elect Toribiong, him and Compact negotiator Kuartei.From the U.S., the law firm in Washington DC and advisers coming from off –island.He said that there will also be a separating meeting for the incoming members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau and outgoing members of the Legislature.The president said traditional chiefs and governors will also be invited for a briefing.
