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Pacific Region News
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Posted on Oct 21 1999
New US envoy to FSM named
HONOLULU, Hawaii—The new U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, Diane E. Watson, presented her diplomatic credentials to President Leo A. Falcam Monday at a ceremony in the President’s office.
Falcam accepted Watson’s Letter of Credence and welcomed the former California State Senator and educator to the FSM.
President Falcam said that the new ambassador’s accreditation is timely as the FSM and the U.S. governments will begin formal negotiations on the expiring provisions of the U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association next month in Hawaii.
The discussions will review the progress of the first 13 years of funding under the Compact and consider priorities for future U.S. support for the economic and social development of the FSM.
A major goal of the Compact is to promote FSM economic self-sufficiency. (Hulsen)
Fiji battling poverty
SUVA, Fiji Islands—Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry told a meeting of social workers Tuesday that the government will continue to implement policy measures to combat poverty in the country.
He said specific additional plans will be announced when year 2000 national budget legislation is introduced next month.
“We will be increasing the allocations devoted to the improvement of our education and public health systems,” he said. “We have already implemented measures to reduce basic food prices and the cost of water and electricity.”
