Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2804

 PUBLIC LAW 108–188—DEC. 17, 2003

117 STAT. 2785

a Joint Committee empowered to consider disputes arising under the implementation of this Title and its related agreements. (b) The membership of the Joint Committee shall comprise selected senior officials of the two Governments. The senior United States military commander in the Pacific area shall be the senior United States member of the Joint Committee. For the meetings of the Joint Committee, each of the two Governments may designate additional or alternate representatives as appropriate for the subject matter under consideration. (c) Unless otherwise mutually agreed, the Joint Committee shall meet annually at a time and place to be designated, after appropriate consultation, by the Government of the United States. The Joint Committee also shall meet promptly upon request of either of its members. The Joint Committee shall follow such procedures, including the establishment of functional subcommittees, as the members may from time to time agree. Upon notification by the Government of the United States, the Joint Committee of the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia shall meet promptly in a combined session with the Joint Committee established and maintained by the Government of the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to consider matters within the jurisdiction of the two Joint Committees. (d) Unresolved issues in the Joint Committee shall be referred to the Governments for resolution, and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia shall be afforded, on an expeditious basis, an opportunity to raise its concerns with the United States Secretary of Defense personally regarding any unresolved issue which threatens its continued association with the Government of the United States. Section 352 In the exercise of its authority and responsibility under Title Three, the Government of the United States shall accord due respect to the authority and responsibility of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia under Titles One, Two and Four and to the responsibility of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia to assure the well-being of its people. Section 353 (a) The Government of the United States shall not include the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia as a named party to a formal declaration of war, without that Government’s consent. (b) Absent such consent, this Compact, as amended, is without prejudice, on the ground of belligerence or the existence of a state of war, to any claims for damages which are advanced by the citizens, nationals or Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, which arise out of armed conflict subsequent to November 3, 1986, and which are: (1) petitions to the Government of the United States for redress; or (2) claims in any manner against the government, citizens, nationals or entities of any third country. (c) Petitions under section 353(b)(1) shall be treated as if they were made by citizens of the United States. Section 354 (a) The Government of the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia are jointly committed to continue their security and defense relations, as set forth in this

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