By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
(This story has been updated and includes comments from Mark Brown, chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.)
Guam's and American Samoa’s applications for associate membership with the Pacific Islands Forum have been endorsed by the foreign ministers committee and are likely to face smooth sailing at the upcoming leadership meeting in Tonga, according to the organization’s chair.
“I have to say that there is widespread support for the membership of Guam and American Samoa and so that is the recommendation in principle coming from foreign ministers that will be tabled with leaders,” Mark Brown said at a press conference Friday.
“American Samoa and Guam both meet that qualifying criteria as territories within the Pacific who are wanting to be part of the forum family,” said Brown, the Forum’s chair and prime minister of the Cook Islands.
Both U.S. territories currently hold observer status with the Forum. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently agreed to back their petitions for status upgrades but cautioned that they may not participate in political and international policy decisions.
"While their applications will be considered by leaders and in this case it looks like favorably to be elevated to associate membership," Brown said.
At this week's foreign ministers committee meeting in Suva, Fiji, leaders of Guam and American Samoa sought to drum up support for their respective bids to elevate their seats, making a case for their petitions ahead of the organization’s leadership meeting in Tonga from Aug. 26 to 30.
“Guam and American Samoa cannot be left out of the critical collective discussions at PIF. Guam, like American Samoa, is ready to assume our place in the room and at the table as associate members of PIF,” said Josh Tenorio, Guam’s lt. governor.
Tenorio's American Samoan counterpart, Laapui Talauega Ale, seconded Guam's argument. “A reality of our history is the undeniable truth of our shared origins as Pacific people,” he said.
Tenorio and Ale attended this week's Forum Officials Committee and Forum Ministers meetings in Suva, Fiji, where they commenced high-level discussions leading up to the Forum leaders meeting.
"I do not see any further need for Guam or American Samoa to provide additional supporting statements or information to support their application," Brown said.
"From what I have been able to gather, they have met the requirements and criteria under the 2005 application criteria for associate membership. That is now gone to the leaders for their final decision and approval," he added.
If their petitions are approved, Guam and American Samoa would join two other current associate members, Wallis and Fortuna, a French territory, and Tokelau, a New Zealand territory.
"I guess there is no restriction on them being U.S. territories," Brown said. "One of the founding mandates of the Pacific Islands Forum was to look at Pacific countries and Pacific territories are part of a family."
Brown said that while the Forum's regional architecture is undergoing review, part of the process is to examine and possibly amend the criteria for associate membership and observer status.
"The review of the regional architecture as it pertains to associate membership may see some changes in the criteria of what that entails for associate members," he added.
"That is an area that is under consideration-- whether to apply a tiered status to each of the dialogue partners, depending on their level of engagement and support to the region," Brown said.
At the Suva meetings, Ale and Tenorio pushed for greater integration and representation within the Forum to “ensure that the voices and concerns of their respective territories are heard and addressed.”
Tenorio argued that Guam is an “important part of the Pacific” regardless of its political status. “We are the center of transportation, communications and economics for the Micronesian region, and we are not immune to the environmental and socio-economic challenges experienced throughout the Pacific,” he said.
“The 2050 Blue Pacific Continent Strategy adopted by the Pacific Islands Forum embraces the effectiveness of regionalism and equity as keys to improving the quality of life for all Pacific peoples,” Tenorio added.
He noted that consistent with the region’s thrust, Guam has adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and established the Guam Green Growth to measure its progress.
Ale, for his part, said American Samoa seeks “to contribute more effectively to the region’s sustainable development while also benefiting from the collective wisdom and resources of the Forum's member states.”
“We are Pacific Islanders. We are Samoans. Our ancestors are kin, aiga, - we traversed the vast Blue Pacific together, shared the same alia, drua, vaka. Our ancestors overcame together, the uncertainty before them, and shared in the resulting opportunity,” he added.
According to a joint press release from the two U.S. territories, the Forum Officials Committee meeting “has provided a platform for both lt. governors to engage with other Pacific leaders, share their perspectives and discuss the region’s critical issues."
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