Island Marshall Nuclear Testing

Exposure: The facts regarding radioactive fallout do not support a request under the "changed circumstances" provision of the section 177 settlement agreement. In its request, the RMI asserts that a far wider area of the Marshall Islands than the northerly atolls and islands that are the focus of the section 177 settlement agreement was exposed to dangerous levels of radioactivity. The weight of expert scientific evidence indicates that the present impact of radioactive fallout on the Marshall Islands is limited to the more northerly atolls and islands. Although some islands may never be suitable for communities or food gathering and should remain off limits, most historically inhabited islands in the northern atolls could be resettled under specific conditions. The section 177 settlement agreement recognized that, within the northern atolls, some islands would be more habitable than others. In the section 177 settlement agreement, the Government of the Marshall Islan ... [Read More]

Intermediate-Range and Short-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty -- Memorandum of Understanding

Boundaries: The territory of The Republic of Italy within the boundaries of the Island of Sicily. ...

Wallops Island, Virginia ...

Marshall, Texas ... [Read More]

South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty

The Treaty has three protocols. Under Protocol 1 the United States, France, and the United Kingdom are required to apply the basic provisions of the Treaty to their respective territories in the zone established by the Treaty. The Treaty will therefore apply to American Samoa and Jarvis Island. Under Protocol 2, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation and China agree not to use or threaten to use nuclear explosive devices against any party to the Treaty or to each others' territories located within the zone. Under Protocol 3, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation and China agree not to test nuclear explosive devices within the zone established by the Treaty. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

The total population of the Marshall Islands as of the 1999 census was 50,840 people.  That was an increase of 7,460 people since the 1988 census. Majuro and Ebeye are the two urban population centers. Over 50% of Marshallese live on Majuro Atoll. Out of the total population, 19% live in the island of Ebeye in Kwajalein Atoll and 3% on the outer islands of Kwajalein Atoll. With just 0.14 square miles, Ebeye Island is the most densely populated area in the Marshall Islands, with an equivalent population density of 66,750 persons per square mile. The city of Majuro and Ebeye offer amenities, such as electricity, modern Western lifestyles, and employment opportunities (albeit limited) that continually draw younger Marshallese from the outer islands. On the outer atolls the lifestyle is mostly unchanged and untouched by modern development. ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: TEXT: CLINTON REMARKS TO LEADERS OF MICRONESIAN GOVERNMENTS

Clinton said he recently signed Congressman Underwood's bills guaranteeing the eligibility of students from the Freely Associated States for Pell grants and extended food aid to residents of the Marshall Islands who were harmed by U.S. nuclear testing during the Cold War. He also announced that the United States will fulfill the final commitment made in its compact with Palau; allocating $150 million to build a 53-mile road to help open its largest island, Babeldaob. ... [Read More]

Background Notes Archive - East Asia and the Pacific

U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: Marshall Islands, May 1996Bureau of East Asian and Pacific AffairsPrepared and released by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Office of Pacific Island AffairsMay 1996Official Name: Republic of the Marshall IslandsPROFILEGeographyArea: 181 sq. km. (approximately 70 sq. mi.) of islands scattered over 500,000 sq. mi. of the Western Pacific; slightly larger than Washington, DC.Cities: Capital--Majuro (pop. 225000). Other cities--Ebeye, Jaluit.Terrain: 29 low-lying coral atolls and islands.Climate: Tropical with a wet season from May to November.PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Marshallese.Population (1996 est.): 56,000.Annual growth rate: 4%.Ethnic groups: 90% Marshallese, 10% U.S., Filipino, Chinese, New Zealander, and Korean.Religions: Christian, mostly Protestant.Languages: English; two major Marshallese dialects from Malayo-Polynesian family; Japanese.Education: Literacy (1995)--60%.Health: Infant mortality rate-- ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: GAO Calls for Accountability over Funds to Island Nations

I am pleased to be here today to provide information you requested regarding economic assistance provided by the United States from 1987 through 1998, under the Compact of Free Association, to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In 1986, the U.S. government entered into an international agreement, the Compact of Free Association, with each nation. This Compact represents a continuation of U.S. financial support that had been supplied to these areas for almost 40 years after World War II under the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Specifically, my testimony will address (1) the use of Compact funding by the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, (2) the progress made by both nations in advancing economic self-sufficiency, (3) the role of Compact funds in supporting economic progress, and (4) the amount of accountability over Compact expenditures. My statement will be accompanied by photog ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: State's Stayman June 28 on Micronesia, Marshall Islands

Congress has previously authorized and funded the use of trust funds to achieve similar objectives, including one established under the Compact with the Republic of Palau, and three established in the Marshall Islands as a part of the United States' compensation for the damages resulting from the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program. ...

Thank you for this opportunity to testify on the Compact of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: TEXT: 10/1 ROTH TESTIMONY ON FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES

Finally, Mr. Chairman, let me add one thought about our unique financial obligations to the RMI relating to nuclear claims. While the implementation agreement of the Compact with the RMI constituted the full settlement of all claims, past, present and future, related to nuclear testing, it does provide that the RMI may submit a request for additional compensation to the Congress under certain provisions. RMI representatives have said that additional atolls should be considered affected by the nuclear program, and that compensation for all the affected atolls should be increased. I understand that the Marshallese are hard at work preparing a case for additional compensation and we will of course give their materials full consideration in accordance with our legal obligations. ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: Missile Defense Director Outlines Evolving Program

We have restructured the BMD program to facilitate success through rigorous, robust, and realistic testing. To ensure rigor our BMD testing philosophy recognizes that we must have an integrated, phased test program that comprehensively covers all aspects of testing; and our budget submission reflects our investment in the requisite test infrastructure to support this. To enable more robust testing we will invest in additional test articles and targets. The test bed we propose constructing will enhance our ability to test the full range of missile defense capabilities in realistic configurations and scenarios. Let me describe our approach to testing and discuss broadly what we are undertaking in FY 2002. ... [Read More]