24 May 2018

American Samoa may not join Pacific Islands Forum - US

12:02 pm on 24 May 2018

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands has indicated that American Samoa may not not join the Pacific Islands Forum as a full member.

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Photo: RNZI/Monica Miller

KHJ News asked Matthew J Matthews if the US would allow American Samoa to become a full member of the Forum, in the same way that France has allowed its overseas territories.

Mr Matthews, who attended last year's Forum meeting in Apia, says the US is pleased that observer status had been granted to American Samoa and two other US territories.

However he said the US had not received a formal request from American Samoa to join the Forum as a full member.

Leaders at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum in Samoa.

Leaders at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum in Samoa. Photo: Tipi Autagavaia

He said under the US Constitution and longstanding practice, the federal government has full responsibility to conduct the foreign relations of all areas subject to US jurisdiction, and US states, territories, and possessions are precluded from independently exercising foreign policy.

American Samoa Governor Lolo Moliga has said that the US has a different interest and role in events such as the Forum summit, so he believes the focus of US representatives would not necessarily be related to the needs and interests of the territory.

The governor said that since American Samoa is in the region and is a small island state, it's important that it also takes part and makes an input in organisations such as the Foum.

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Photo: RNZI / Monica Miller

As a territory of the US , and without full membership in the Forum, American Samoa cannot have access to funding and programs that are available to island countries.

One example is the Green Climate Fund in which the US has invested $1 billion.

The governor noted that the French territories of New Caledonia and French Polynesia have access to the Fund , but not American Samoa.

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