What are the “Federated states of Micronesia”?
The Federated States of Micronesia consist of four island states in the Western Pacific Ocean in a geographic area known as Micronesia. These islands are Chuuk (formerly Truk), Kosrae (formerly Kusai), Phonpei, and Yap which are the main islands. Smaller islands within the boundaries of each of the main islands number about 600. The total land area of all islands is about 705 square miles. The Federated States is an independent nation in a free association with the United States. Each of the four main islands are separate entities which have joined together to form the national government which is the Federation. The ethnicity of the people is divided into 9 Micronesian and Polynesian groups.groups. For more information please visit www.pacificmagazine.net.
Territories in free association with the United States. Though formally independent, in 1986 Micronesia signed a “Compact of Free Association” with the US. Under this, Washington took on responsible for defence and gained the right to set up military bases and deny other nations access to Micronesia. In return, Micronesia received financial assistance averaging $100m per year, and the right of Micronesians to live and work in the US. Micronesia also takes its cue from Washington on foreign policy. A renegotiated 20-year compact, worth $3.5 billion to Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, was signed by US President George W Bush in December 2003. Some of the money is being diverted into trust funds, intended to provide a financial resource for Micronesia after the compact expires. Despite its small population and the large amount of incoming aid from the US, Japan and elsewhere, Micronesia has relatively high unemployment, a matter compounded by increasing numbers of Filipino migrant wor
