The HOD adopted Resolution 8-53 after the House Committee on Foreign Relations and State Affairs endorsed the approval of the resolution.
The panel however recommended that the resolution’s title includes the language “incorporating a specific support role for the Angaur State airfield in the U.S. military’s strategic planning for the relocation of the Futenma Airbase from Okinawa, Japan.”
The committee chaired by Del. Rebluud Kesolei said that the committee has received comments from State Minister Victor Yano, Compact Review Ambassador Joshua Koshiba and former State Minister Victor Ucherbelau and that from these comments finds that “encouraging a role for the Angaur airstrip in the U.S. military relocation could facilitate both economic and transportation infrastructure development in the republic and in particular the State of Angaur.”
The resolution is asking President Johnson Toribiong to go through diplomatic channelsstatingthat under the Compact of Free Association, the U.S. military has the option to use lands in Palau.
Proponents of the resolution said Angaur was used by the U.S. military during World War II.
A 10,000 feet runway was constructed on Angaur in Sept 1944, and this newly constructed airfield provided much needed support for the invasion and the eventual U.S. victory in the Battle of Peleliu, the resolution stated.
