AUGUST 19, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- FALEOMAVAEGA INVITED BY FSM VICE PRESIDENT TO SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM

CONGRESSMAN ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED A PERSONAL INVITATION FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA (FSM), THE HONORABLE LEO A. FALCAM, TO ATTEND PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM MEETINGS TO BE HELD IN POHNPEI, FSM, BETWEEN AUGUST 21-28, 1998.

"IT WAS VERY GRACIOUS OF VICE PRESIDENT FALCAM, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE 1998 SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM, TO INVITE ME TO THIS PREMIERE GATHERING OF PACIFIC ISLAND LEADERS. I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THE REGION'S CRUCIAL ISSUES REGARDING TRADE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY WITH THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT FROM THE PACIFIC ISLAND NATIONS," STATED FALEOMAVAEGA.

"AS A SENIOR MEMBER OF CONGRESS ON THE HOUSE INTERNA- TIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, I HAVE WORKED HARD TO FOSTER BETTER RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SOUTH PACIFIC NATIONS AND THE UNITED STATES FOR YEARS. DURING THE SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM IN POHNPEI, I WILL DISCUSS, IN PARTICULAR, A PACIFIC ISLANDS SUMMIT MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, AN INITIATIVE I HAVE BEEN PURSUING IN WASHINGTON. I HAVE RAISED THIS PERSONALLY WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE, AND I AM OPTIMISTIC AS TO THE CHANCES OF A PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT WITH THE PACIFIC ISLAND HEADS OF STATE TAKING PLACE NEXT YEAR AT THE EAST-WEST CENTER IN HAWAII. ADDITIONALLY, I EXPECT TO DISCUSS THE U.S. POSITION ON DEVELOPMENT OF OCEAN RESOURCES, A SUBJECT OF GREAT CONCERN IN WASHINGTON GIVEN THAT 1998 IS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE OCEAN," CONCLUDED FALEOMAVAEGA.