In a letter to Hillary Clinton, Secretary-designate of the State Department, Toribiong said that the Compact review is the administration’s priority.
“My highest priority is to deepen the relationship between our countries as we begin a formal review of our relationship in compliance with our now 15 year old Compact of Free Association. The outcome of this review will impact the lives of every Palauan and I intend to be personally involved,” Toribiong said.He said that the review needs to be expedited since there is a need for a congressional action by Oct. 1, 2009.“For this reason, I would be most grateful if you would let me know whom you have chosen to oversee or participate in this process so we can work quickly to create a timely schedule for our government to government talks,” he said.In Toribiong’s inaugural speech, he said the review of the Compact with the United States will the first and highest priority of his administration.In his inaugural address, Toribiong said 2009 is a very critical period for Palau, when the package of economic and financial benefits under the Compact comes to a halt.Toribiong said that the local revenues are not enough to replace the U.S. subsidies while the Compact Trust fund in the last six months of 2008 sustained a heavy loss of $50 million.He at the same time asked Senate President Mlib Tmetuchl to expedite the confirmation of the nomination of Joshua Koshiba as Compact Chief negotiator.
