*EPF224 05/13/2003
Text: Rep. Duncan Cites Benefits of Compact of Free Association
(Also notes upcoming visit of Marshall Islands leader) (910)

U.S. diplomatic and strategic interests have been well served by the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, according to Representative John Duncan (Republican of Tennessee).

The Compact "is an alliance that represents the best of American diplomacy," and it demonstrates that America "deals honorably with small nations that share our values," Duncan said in a speech before the House of Representatives May 8.

The lawmaker urged the Bush administration to send the treaty renewal agreements to Congress for action and said that Congress should renew the Compact of Free Association before it expires, "thereby sustaining a bipartisan foreign policy and national security success story."

The Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia have been good allies of the United States, "reliably voting with" America in the United Nations, Duncan said.

Both Marshall Islanders and Micronesians have fought with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division "in the streets of Baghdad as comrades in arms with American soldiers," the Tennessee Republican added.

According to Duncan, President Kessai Note of the Marshall Islands will be making a visit to the United States later this month.

Following is the text of Duncan's May 8 speech from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

SUSTAINING AN AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS

SPEECH OF HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR. OF TENNESSEE
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2003

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, later this month, the U.S. will welcome President Note of the Marshall Islands as he visits our country. His visit here will coincide with the Bush Administration's transmittal to Congress of the document that governs the bilateral relationship enjoyed by our nations. This little known treaty embodies the best of U.S. diplomacy and strategic policy in recent decades. Ronald Reagan was President and the Democrats controlled both House of Congress when a bipartisan majority of both Houses approved the Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and two Pacific island micro-states.

The treaty of free association between the United States, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia ended more than four decades of United Nations trust territory status for the islands, and these new nations, under new flags, themselves then became members of the United Nations. Not only was this a good model for decolonization of dependent territories, but the compact also preserved U.S. strategic interests in the islands. Under the treaty, an area of ocean as large as the continental United States, with strategically located islands stretching from the mid-Pacific to the Asian rim, remains foreclosed in perpetuity to the military forces of any nation other than the United States.

U.S. strategic interest in the Marshall Islands began in 1946 when the U.S. conducted its first atmospheric nuclear weapons test at Bikini. During the next decade over 67 tests were conducted, leaving a legacy of injuries to people and contamination of homelands that is still being resolved through claims settlement proceedings authorized by Congress under the compact. Amazingly, the islanders suffered greatly but consider themselves survivors rather than just victims, U.S. allies rather than just a subjugated people.

In addition nuclear test sites in the islands, Kwajalein Missile Range in the Marshall Islands was perhaps the most vital facility in the U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile development program, a centerpiece of U.S. nuclear deterrence that prevented the Cold War from turning into nuclear winter. Renamed the U.S. Army Ronald Reagan Missile Test Range, Kwajalein played an indispensable role in the Strategic Defense Initiative that helped bring about disarmament and end the Soviet empire.

To preserve the compact's success and the underlying strategic interests, Congress has to renew the economic assistance provisions of the compact that expires this year. The Bush Administration has consulted with Congress about renewal terms in a bipartisan spirit, and has addressed concerns raised by GAO about fiscal accountability for the island governments, as well tightening up controls on migration between the islands and the mainland.

Free association is based on separate sovereignty, nationality and citizenship, and is free because any party to the compact can terminate it in favor of full independence at any time. Thus, it is not some screwy scheme of co-mingled nationality or neo-colonial entanglement. Indeed, the whole point of free association is that it continues as long as it serves the mutual interest of the parties. Clearly, from a strategic point of view alone, U.S. interests preclude letting the compact lapse.

Moreover, the islands have been good allies, reliably voting with the U.S. in the U.N. on important issues. Under the compact, islanders are eligible for service in the U.S. military, and both Marshall Islanders and Micronesians have fought with the 3d Infantry in the streets of Baghdad as comrades in arms with American soldiers.

This is an alliance that represents the best of American diplomacy, and the compact also demonstrates that America deals honorably with small nations that share our values. Obviously, there are other priorities, but the Administration should send the treaty renewal agreements to Congress without further delay, and Congress should renew the Compact of Free Association before it expires, thereby sustaining a bipartisan foreign policy and national security success story.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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