902 talks begin •CNMI debunks Stayman’s claim of ‘agreement’ on immigration

Crucial meetings under Section 702 of the Covenant open today between the Northern Marianas and the United States with little prospects that the two sides could make progress in closing wide gaps on how problems on local immigration and labor should be resolved.

Both sides failed to hammer out a common agenda prior to the opening of the four-day “informal” discussions, and local officials preferred that specific talking points be discussed when they convene this morning at the Hyatt.

President Bill Clinton’s special representative to the bilateral talks, Edward B. Cohen, suggested in an interview last night that the local government did not oppose Washington’s proposal to discuss transition.

“I’m not sure if there’s any question that we’ll be discussing that. I had some correspondence with the lieutenant governor and he knows that those issues are on the agenda,” Cohen said.

Negotiations were canceled twice last year by the Northern Marianas after Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio had been called to testify before the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in March which heard several proposals on federal takeover. It was again called off by local officials in September because of what they called intransigence of the US to accommodate their proposed agenda.

Clinton’s top aide has repeatedly said in the past he would like to take up transition to federal laws of the commonwealth’s immigration and minimum wage systems.

But local leaders are opposed to giving up authority over these functions, and maintain that the island government should be given more time to address the concerns of Washington through increased federal assistance.

Other issues the local panel want to raise in the 902 consultations are the waiver to matching requirement for Section 702 funds, submerged lands, economic aid, and non-voting delegate status to the US Congress.

Saipan and Washington have been locked in a dispute over control of the commonwealth’s labor and immigration since the White House sponsored a legislation seeking to take away local authority on these policies during the tenure of former governor Froilan C. Tenorio.

The former CNMI leader abandoned talks, last held in 1992 in San Diego, California, after a federal takeover bill was formally introduced. Through the help of powerful law firm Preston, Gates, Rouvellas & Meads, he then turned to Congress dominated to by Republicans sympathetic to CNMI for support to stave off Washington’s plan.

Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan, head of the CNMI 902 team, said he hoped that talks would “assist the two governments to better understand each other on the issues of labor, immigration and minimum wage,” but made a pitch against the Office of Insular Affairs for accusing the administration of failure to resolve labor and immigration problems.

Sablan said, “Contrary to Stayman’s statements, there was no understanding or agreement between the negotiators of the Covenant whether (and in what manner and to what extent) the US immigration laws might apply after the termination (of the Trusteeship).”

According to the governor, he is optimistic that “something will develop that will be of mutual benefit to the federal and the CNMI.”

“I hope they will realize what will be the consequences that the community of the CNMI will get if ever some of these things will happen,” he told reporters, referring to the federal takeover.

Some administration officials, however, said prospects are dim that substantial agreements would be reached at the end of the 902 discussions. “It’s very clear that Mr. Cohen has only on thing in mind when he comes here and that is to discuss transition. We will dance the 902 waltz, but we don’t think we will resolve anything,” an administration source said.

But Cohen said he expects discussions with local officials and the community will ease strains in the relations between CNMI and the federal government. “If we can’t talk about your problems, you can’t solve your problems,” he said.

“I think starting to talk about the issues, articulating as much as we can what our concerns are and giving the CNMI delegation the opportunity to articulate its concerns, I think we’ll begin to narrow our gaps,” Cohen said.