President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. has expressed appreciation to US President Donald Trump for the approval of the Compact Review Agreement.
On behalf of the people of Palau, I wish to express appreciation for your leadership in providing in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2018, the approval of the compact review agreement between the United states of America and the Republic of Palau, "President Remengesau said in his letter of December 13, 2017. The compact review agreement which was signed in September 2010 but never approved by the US congress, called for a continued financial assistance totaling $229 million to Palau over a 15 years period ending in year 2024.
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| Tommy E Remengesau Jr. |
"Your action after seven years of delay send a clear message to the people of the Pacific that the United States stands again with its friends," President Remengesau said.
Last week President Donald Trump signed into law the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes the Palau Compact Review Agreement. The enhancement officially authorizes the strategic agreement signed between the United States and Palau governments in 2010.
"We hope that the US congress will now make the appropriations necessary to complete US approval of the Agreement," Remengesau added.
US President Trump called for $123.9 million to implement the agreement in his proposed budget for FY 2018.
Beginning with FY 2010, subsequent interior and discretionary appropriations acts have been extended annual economic assistance to Palau of approximately $13.1 million a year for a total of 105.2 million in discretionary funds thus far.
In his letter, President Remengesau also asked to meet with President Trump to personally thank him. "If you schedule permits during my next trip to the United States, It would be my pleasure to personally express to you the gratitude of the people of Palau," Remengesau further said.
