Interior Assistant Secretary Domenech and U.S. High-Level Delegation Meet with President Remengesau in Palau

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PALAU – Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and others in a high-level U.S. delegation from Washington, D.C. and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, who are visiting Palau and other areas in the Pacific met there today with Palauan President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. Yesterday, the delegation was in Chuuk, Micronesia, where they joined in the 75^th anniversary commemoration of Operation Hailstone, an important U.S. military action during the World War II battle in the Pacific. 

In Palau, Assistant Secretary Domenech and the members of the U.S. delegation met with President Remengesau to discuss mutual issues of interest to the U.S. and Palau. The delegation was also briefed on President Remengesau’s plans to host the Our Ocean Conference in Palau in 2020.

“Interior is proud of the role that we play in support of the overall U.S. relationship with the people of Palau,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech. “Our relationship is enduring. We have come to Palau today to demonstrate our commitment and continued interest in Palau’s success going forward,” continued Domenech. “More immediately, we look forward to playing a part with our other federal partners in the U.S.-Palau economic consultations as called for under the Palau Compact Review,” he concluded.

The principals of the U.S. delegation who arrived in Palau, as listed below, were met by U.S. Ambassador to Palau Amy Hyatt:

• Doug Domenech, Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Department of the Interior;
• General CQ Brown, Jr., USAF, Commander, Pacific Air Forces; Indo-Pacific Command;
• Nick Dean, Director, East Asia Pacific Bureau, State Department;
• Alexander Gray, Director for Oceania, National Security Council; and
• Nikolao Pula, Director, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior.

From Palau, the delegation will continue to Kwajalein in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for coordinating federal policy with respect to the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and administering and overseeing U.S. federal assistance provided under the Compact of Free Association to the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, executes these responsibilities, on behalf of the Secretary, through the Office of Insular Affairs whose mission is to foster economic opportunities, promote government efficiency, and improve the quality of life for the people of the insular areas.

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