American Samoa makes effort for Pacific Islands Forum observer status

Source: Xinhua | 04-22-2009 17:50

WELLINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- American Samoan member of the U.S. Congress Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin has asked the U.S. State Department to support the territory's application to become an observer with the Pacific Islands Forum, Radio New Zealand International reported on Wednesday.

At the 2006 Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Fiji, American Samoa applied for observer status but on advice of the U.S. State Department, the Forum secretariat did not consider the application.

Faleomavaega said the State Department had done so without any consultation with either the American Samoa government or himself, who at the time was the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

He said it is unfortunate that the U.S. territories are not able to voice their concerns or raise any issues of interest with the Pacific Islands Forum in which they would be able to address with a common front.

This week, Faleomavaega wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to grant American Samoa observer status, the radio said.　

Editor:Shi Taoyang