Palau VP to meet US Secretary of State Pompeo in FSM

Koror- Palau Vice President Raynold Oilouch is scheduled to leave this weekend for Pohnpei, FSM, to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Aug. 5, 2019.

Pompeo who will be traveling to the Federated States of Micronesia following a visit to Thailand and Australia as part of his tour of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In Pohnpei, Vice President Oilouch will join FSM President David Panuelo and the Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine in meeting with Pompeo.

Palau President Tommy Remengesau will remain on the island to welcome Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who will also be visiting Palau as part of a tour through Southeast Asia and the Pacific.In a statement to the media, the vice president's office said that the meeting with Pompeo will provide an opportunity for open dialogue on ongoing issues between the United States with its allied countries of the North Pacific Micronesian region.

According to Palau Ambassador to United States, Hersey Kyota, he has met with the U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Affairs, Mr. Nicholas Dean, in preparation for Pompeo’s visit and he says the U.S. will be open to entertain or address any issues that Palau desires to raise during the talks.

The press statement added that the talks will “focus on ongoing issues of concern, namely; Compact extension; China’s presence and activities in the region; U.S. Economic Development and Investment in Palau; Palau’s voting records in the United Nations; Amendment to the Real ID Act, and Proposed Immigration rule on Public Charge.”