Gov. Togiola Tulafono says U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton informed him that the territory is cleared to apply for observer status in the Forum.
The governor raised the issue of Forum membership for American Samoa when Clinton stopped over in the territory in November.
Togiola says a joint application for American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas to be observer members will be presented at the next Forum leaders meeting in New Zealand next month.
The governor will be a member of the U.S. delegation to the meeting.
