PRESIDENT REITERATES IMPORTANCE OF COMPACT FIVE YEAR REVIEW,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLONIA 000022 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON PGOV EAID CPAS FM SUBJECT: PRESIDENT REITERATES IMPORTANCE OF COMPACT FIVE YEAR REVIEW, SEEKS SUPPORT ON PASSPORTS ISSUANCE PROCESS REF: E-MAIL WEMHOENER-CUITE/KORFF 1-26-09 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Emanuel Mori used a February 23 meeting with Ambassador Hughes to reiterate the importance he places in the Compact of Free Association's upcoming five year review, saying all aspects of the Compact are on the table. Mori also sought assistance in passport processing and school repairs. The Ambassador, meanwhile, opened her comments by expressing her condolences for the death of a Micronesian soldier in Kuwait and described the efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard to find two boys lost at sea. She protested judicial treatment of an American couple ensnared in a ten-year business dispute, and urged the President to assist in a satisfactory resolution of this case. END SUMMARY. Ambassador Expresses Condolences -------------- ¶2. (U) President Emanuel Mori opened a February 23 meeting with Ambassador Hughes by thanking her for coming to Palikir to meet with him and then asked that she open discussions. The Ambassador used the opportunity to express condolences on behalf of the U.S. Government on the death of an FSM citizen serving with the Hawaii National Guard in Kuwait. The Ambassador further stressed that the Department of Defense had contacted the Honolulu based family of 19 year-old Cwislyn Walter and were making burial arrangements. Although the soldiers' parents are from Tol and Fefen Islands in Chuuk State, they have requested a memorial service in Honolulu and a burial ceremony in Pohnpei, with which DOD is assisting. DOD has launched a full investigation into the military vehicle accident that was the cause of death. Mori asked to be kept fully informed. ¶3. (U) On February 18, the U.S. Coast Guard received information that two Chuukese boys, a seventh grader and an eighth grader, were lost at sea beyond the Chuuk Lagoon and immediately began search and rescue operations in the vicinity of Satawal. The Ambassador highlighted that the USCG found their canoe and spotted one of the boys for a brief time. Efforts to rescue the boys were still continuing at the time of Ambassador's conversation with the President, although they have since been concluded and the boys are presumed drowned. Mori responded that both pieces of news came as a surprise to him as he learned only that morning of Walter's death. Looking around at his staff, he then stated that he hoped communication could be better in the future. (Note: The Ambassador contacted the Foreign Secretary immediately over the weekend, thus the delay in getting the information to the President was internal to the FSMNG. End Note.) American Citizen Legal Dispute -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador also used the opportunity to highlight strong U.S. concern regarding the treatment of two American investors in the FSM, Bob and Patti Arthur. Staff members from the U.S. Congress have contacted the Ambassador expressing concern about how the FSM is proceeding against the Arthurs. The Ambassador then reviewed some of the difficulties the Arthurs are facing (Ref),including intrusive questioning by court officials required to temporarily regain their U.S. passports and permission to travel for medical care. The President generally agreed with the Ambassador's assessment, commenting, "We would like the case to disappear, it is bad for everyone." He emphasized, however, that he could not interfere with the courts. He added, that it might be possible to sit the lawyers down and find a resolution, or that the Board of Directors of the FSM Development Bank overseeing a contested loan could meet and review the need for repayment considering the role of a former Pohnpei State Governor in undermining the Arthurs' businesses. In the end, Mori promised to assemble a meeting, including with the FSM Attorney General, Foreign Secretary and the current Pohnpei Governor, among others. However, he was not very hopeful, opining, "Banks are inflexible." Mori on the Compact -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Following a brief, general discussion on American investors in the FSM, Mori steered the conversation to the five year review of the Compact of Free Association. Mori wanted to assure the Ambassador that the FSMNG was reviewing all options available and was actively planning for the review. He added that, in his opinion, all aspects of the Compact were on the table and open for discussion. In preparation for discussions, Mori commented that he had sent Office of Statistics, Budget and Economic Management, Overseas Development Assistance and Compact KOLONIA 00000022 002 OF 002 Management (SBOC) Director Fabian Nimea to Washington D.C. to consult on expectations for the five year Compact review. ¶6. (SBU) While discussing the Compact, the Ambassador commented that Pohnpei legislators had complained that the recent appropriation of Compact infrastructure funds by the FSM Congress appeared to have taken $2 million from Pohnpei's funds and transferred the money to Chuuk. The national law upon which the accusation was based gives each state a specific percentage of infrastructure related funds allocated by the FSM. Mori replied that the Pohnpei legislators' interpretation of funding disbursement was incorrect. In the final accounting for infrastructure allocations, the national distribution formula would be accurately reflected, he said. A brief discussion followed on other possible means of allocating the backlog of Compact infrastructure funds that might avoid future misunderstandings and disputes with the FSM Congress. ¶7. (SBU) During last week's Joint Committee Meeting (JCM, which focuses on DOD and security related issues),the Ambassador informed Mori that she had raised the possibility of the military restarting the Humanitarian Assistance, FSM (HAFSM) with the DOD representatives. The last HAFSM project centered on water wells in Pohnpei, but the Ambassador recommended looking at other engineering repair and maintenance projects that could have an immediate impact within the FSM. The DOD was willing to support HAFSM deployment, but all parties would still have to address funding issues. Representatives from the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) told the Ambassador they were willing to look at the possibility of using Infrastructure Maintenance Funds (IMF) to support such HAFSM projects, but that one difficulty for the FSM may be that the IMF requires matching funds. ¶8. (SBU) Mori was appreciative of the idea, stressing that the Seabees do a great job and they do it quickly. One particular area where the FSM could experience immediate results was if such a team could do basic maintenance and repairs at the public schools. While acknowledging that a renewed DOD HAFSM presence was still only a possibility, the Ambassador promised to keep Mori updated as information became available. Passport Issuances -------------- ¶9. (SBU) On FSM passport processing, Mori opened the conversation by saying, "This is very important to me." Mori then thanked the Ambassador for the visit by Assistant Regional Director of the Honolulu Passport Agency Steven Mullen to review FSM's passport issuance procedures (Septel). The FSM looks forward to his report. The Ambassador agreed with the President's assessment, that Mullen was able to witness many positive aspects of the FSM process and that she anticipated his report to reflect those observations. ¶10. (SBU) In the meantime, Mori complained, the current process requiring applicants deliver applications from remote sites by mail or hand to Palikir for adjudication is too time consuming and unreliable. Mori asked for assistance in acquiring at least three scanners that would permit remote application acceptance. Adjudication and printing authority would remain in Palikir. He confirmed that the FSM was no longer looking to store blank passports for printing in remote locations. Mori concluded the meeting by asking to meet with the Ambassador again in approximately two weeks to review passport issuance and other issues. HUGHESMK