Belau to vote on U.S. plan

Press, 17 January 1986, Page 20

Belau to vote on U.S. plan

NZPA-AP Honolulu Voters in the Republic of Belau will cast ballots on February 24 on a revised Compact of Free Association that could bring the West Pacific islands selfgovernment and SUSI billion in American economic assistance. The Belauan Government set the plebiscite date after the signing with United States Government officials in Koror of the revised compact and 10 subsidiary agreements. Koror is the capital of Belau, with a population of 15,000. Belau is the last of four United States trust territories in the Pacific to agree on a compact with the United States under which the territories will be independent but leave defence arrangements to United States Armed Forces in return for annual American, subsidy payments.

The agreement had been delayed by an article in the Belau constitution which banned nuclear weapons. Under the new accord, the United States agreed to include a provision saying, “the United States Government shall not use, test, store or dispose of nuclear, toxic, chemical gas or biological weapons intended

for use in warfare.” An economic adviser for the United States office for Micronesian status negotiations, Mr James Berg, said the United Nations had agreed to send a team to observe the Belau referendum.

It would be the fourth held in three years by the fledgling republic. Belau, about 7240 km south-west of Hawaii, is part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which the United Nations established in 1947.

In a related matter, Mr Berg said the White House had received legislation for self-government for the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. He said President Reagan should sign the bill on or before January 20.

Those Governments would receive $U52.42 billion ($4.77 billion) in United States aid over 15 years, and also would be selfgoverning. The Federal Office of Management and Budget had recommended approval of the legislation, which could lead to termination of the trust status for the two island Governments as well as the North Mariana Islands.