COMPLAINTS OVER COMPACT ADMINISTRATION HEARD AT OPENING

UNCLAS KOLONIA 000012 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/ANP, ALCY FRELICK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID FM SUBJECT: COMPLAINTS OVER COMPACT ADMINISTRATION HEARD AT OPENING CONGRESSIONAL SESSION ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Senators Halbert and Urusemal criticized the administration of the Compact during the recent opening of the FSM Congressional session. Post believes the remarks reflect frustration with the lack of progress on infrastructure projects and not increased anti-American sentiment. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) The Sixth Regular Session of the Fifteenth FSM Congress opened on January 26. After Speaker Figir convened the Session, Dohsis Halbert, who is a senior (eleven-term) Senator from Pohnpei State, took the floor and read a prepared speech. ¶3. (U) Senator Halbert began by lauding the inauguration of President Obama, stating that he and his countrymen "are anxious to see new changes." He quoted a passage from President Obama's speech: "...all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." Senator Halbert then pointed to JEMCO and the Trust Fund Board to assert that "all are not equal, all are not free, and not all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness [emphasis added]." As far as the Compact is concerned, "the majority rules and the minority suffers (sic)," he said. ¶4. (U) Senator Halbert went on to say that the FSM doesn't want "stringent" decisions by the Office of Insular Affairs. He claimed the FSM Constitution had been treated as "subservient" to the Compact's Fiscal Procedures Agreement. The Senator then quoted Harry S. Truman's remark that "if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen." Senator Halbert stated that while the FSM does not want to get out, it also does not want to get "burned." He questioned whether the FSM will ever benefit from Compact infrastructure projects "during our lifetime." ¶5. (U) Senator Halbert also pinned his hopes on the upcoming Compact Review "to allow [the FSM] to benefit more as originally envisioned." ¶6. (U) The at-large Senator and former FSM President from Yap, Joseph J. Urusemal, a 21-year veteran of the national government, followed Senator Halbert's criticism with some of his own. He coupled his best wishes for the new Obama administration with complaints about the Compact's infrastructure administration. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: It should be noted that two other Senators, Senator Resio S. Moses from Pohnpei and Senator Paliknoa K. Welly from Kosrae, had nothing but praise for the FSM-U.S. relationship. Senator Welly went out of his way to thank the U.S. for sending teams to assess the damage caused by last month's tidal surges. Post believes that Senators Moses and Welly's comments accurately mirror the prevalent Micronesian view that American assistance is worthwhile and appreciated. However, Senators Halbert and Urusemal's comments also reflect the frustration many FSMG officials feel about Compact implementation, particularly in the infrastructure sector. HUGHES