Resumption of 902 talks proposed

Senate leaders yesterday saw the need to resume discussions between the Commonwealth and Untied States governments under the Section 902 of the Covenant, as part of efforts to improve relationship with the Bush Administration.

Senate President Paul A. Manglona said the Tenorio Administration should take aggressive steps to pursue the resumption of Section 902 talks with the federal government.

A four-day discussion within the parameters of Section 902 in January 1999 ended with renewed animosity due to opposing stands on federalization of local labor and immigration systems.

With the assumption into office of Republican President George W. Bush, local leaders are upbeat the CNMI has better chances at forging better relations with the federal government since GOP has been historically CNMI-fiendly.

Mr. Manglona formally informed Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan, who was also the chairman of the CNMI 902 negotiating panel in 1999, of the Senate’s stand on the resumption of the Covenant-guaranteed discussion with US officials.

CNMI officials were disappointed over what appeared to be a pre-determined agenda of the Clinton Administration when it sent White House negotiator Edward Cohen to represent the US in the 902 negotiations in 1999.

White House insisted that it would introduce a law that would empower the federal government to control Saipan’s labor and immigration functions that led to the collapse of the 902 discussion.

The battle for control has been a wedge in the CNMI-US relations at a time when the Commonwealth has been reaching out internationally, including Washington, its main financial backer, for help to revive its ailing economy.

In the past, the CNMI government pinned hopes that the 902 talks would strengthen the apparently strained relationship between the Commonwealth and the United States.

Officials have emphasized the economic disadvantages faced by the Commonwealth if local labor and immigration systems will be placed under federal control, especially amid the economic upheavals.

Commonwealth officials believe that the series of labor and immigration reform programs instituted by the government makes the CNMI well-equipped to continue control of its own labor and immigration systems.