| |
|
| |
 |
| |
Current News |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
July 06, 2011
Majuro, Marshall Islands – President Jurelang Zedkaia was on hand to greet and meet with Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and his delegation at the Cabinet Conference Room. Mr. Campbell’s visit to the Republic of the Marshall Islands is part of his Pacific Island tour, which include stops in the Republic of Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
During the bilateral meeting held on Saturday, 2nd of July, President Zedkaia and Assistant Secretary Campbell discussed a number of issues, including Compact impact issues, which were discussed at length, including RMI climate change roadmap, decrement of U.S. compact funds, the RMI Trust Fund, nuclear issues, health and education, among other important issues.
Foreign Minister John Silk informed Assistant Secretary Campbell on initiatives on RMI’s part to assist with the compact impact issues, including a number of awareness documents and educational videos that have been distributed to the general Marshallese population on emigrating to the United States, the ongoing coordination and educational outreach programs of the RMI embassies and consulate offices in the U.S., as well as the obtainment of three dialysis machines from the Republic of China (Taiwan), and other ongoing programs and efforts.
The signed Land Use Agreement, MOURA, Tax and Trade benefits, Marshalls Energy Company (MEC) loan payments to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Services (RUS) were also discussed.
In addressing several of these issues, Assistant Secretary Campbell mentioned that coordination between the United States and its Pacific Island allies is critical and that to strengthen this coordination a U.S. delegation will attend the Pacific Islands Forum in September to address the issues of such Pacific Island nations, to which he also mentioned that the Office of Global Change (OES/EGC), U.S. Department of State have granted a Technical Assistance grant for one Senior Climate Change Advisor to be housed under the Office of Environment Planning and Policy Coordination (OEPPC) in the RMI.
President Zedkaia reiterated RMI’s commitment and support to the special relationship with the United States of America and congratulated the United States of America on its 235th Independence Day, which was reaffirmed by Campbell as he acknowledged United States role in the nuclear legacy of the Marshall Islands.
President Zedkaia was joined by Speaker Alvin T. Jacklick, Minister John M. Silk, Minister Brenson S. Wase, Minister Mattlan Zackhras, Minister Jack Ading, and Senators Gerald Zackios (Chairman of Nitijela Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade), Tony Debrum (Kwajalein Representative to the Nitijela), Jeban Riklon (Kwajalein Representative to the Nitijela) and Chief Secretary Casten Nemra.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
