WASHINGTON, D.C. (FSM Information Services & The Joint Committee on Compact Review & Planning) — Representatives from the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States of America met at the U.S. Department of State on April 21, 2022 to exchange views and discuss planning for ongoing work on expiring provisions of the Compact of Free Association and related subsidiary agreements between the two nations.
FSM Chief Negotiator Leo A. Falcam Jr., and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Compact Negotiations Ambassador Joseph Yun led their respective delegations in a discussion of progress to date and review of work remaining in order to quickly achieve agreement in principle.
Falcam also formally presented the FSM’s economic assistance proposal under Title Two of the Amended Compact. He indicated that the FSM would be forthcoming with proposed amendments to the fiscal procedures agreement within the next several weeks.
The nations welcomed the constructive discussions and reaffirmed their commitment to the September 2022 completion of these negotiations. The sides plan to continue ongoing work in advance of the next formal round of negotiations scheduled to begin no later than June 2022, at a location to be determined.
With the exception of informal consultations between negotiators in Honolulu during November 2021, the engagement on April 21, 2022 represented the first in-person meetings of the Compact teams since the global Covid-19 outbreak in early 2020. During this period the sides have continued technical discussions on certain aspects of the Compact and related subsidiary agreements by videoconference.
The meeting at the U.S. Department of State also marked the first formal engagement by newly appointed U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Yun since his appointment by President Joe Biden in March 2022.
The meeting came on the heels of the visit to Washington, D.C. by FSm President David Panuelo, which included meetings with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Ambassador Yun.
The U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association entered into force in 1986 and provided economic assistance and programs and services to the FSM for an initial period of 17 years until 2003. The economic assistance and programs and services provisions of the Amended Compact now in force are scheduled to end at the end of Fiscal Year 2023 unless they are extended. Other elements of the Compact and its subsidiary agreements have no expiration date and remain in effect.
From left, Akilino H. Susaia, ambassador of the FSM to the U.S.; Asterio Takesy, chair of the Joint Committee on Compact Review and Planning; Leo A. Falcam Jr., FSM’s chief Compact negotiator; David W. Panuelo, president of the FSM; Carmen G. Cantor, ambassador of the U.S. to the FSM; and Joseph Y. Yun, U.S. special presidential envoy for Compact negotiations.
