FSM and US Holds 2015 Joint Committee Meeting (JCM)-Mid Year Review

On April 29, 2015 delegates from the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States of America congregated in Guam for the 2015 Mid-Year of the annual Joint Committee Meeting.  The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Joint Region Marianas and was historic in the JCM process as it was the first time for this annual dialogue on security and defense to be held in Guam.  As with previous such engagements, the meeting served as a platform for the two countries to continue joint discussions of issues of importance and of common interest to both countries, specifically as it relates to Title III of the Compact of Free-Association Treaty.  The meeting agenda and discussions centered on implementation updates on action items agreed by both countries during the 2014 Joint Committee (JCM), which the US hosted last year in Honolulu, Hawaii.

As the Commander of the Joint Region Marianas and US Defense Representative to the FSM, opportunity was ensured for the meeting to be opened with welcoming remarks by Read Admiral Bette Bolivar, followed by remarks by Ambassador Doria Rosen and Deputy Secretary Samson Pretrick as head of respective delegation.  Specific to the latter two remarks, a common theme described was the progressive and cooperative engagements that continue to exist between the two countries.

Among others, constructive discussions were held on the continuing implementation of the Construction Civic Action Detail (CCAD) program in the FSM for which implementation period, as reported, will be changed from a 6-month cycle to a 1-year period to allow for increase number of projects per implementation cycle.  Updates were provided by the FSM on latest activities of the transnational crime unit as well as a general overview of maritime security.  A brief on the US homeland security planning phases were also highlighted, as well as updates on efforts to implement projects under the Humanitarian Assistance-FSM (HA-FSM) program, namely the Pohnpei Jail House and Chuuk State Hospital.  Updates on the engagements of the US Coast Guard were also reported, as well as preparations for the upcoming 2015 Pacific Partnership (PP15).