Micronesia
Cluster Munition Ban Policy
Summary: Non-signatory the Federated States of Micronesia has expressed support for the convention’s objectives, but has taken no measures towards accession. It voted in favor of a UN resolution on the convention in December 2015. The Federated States of Micronesia has is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.
Policy
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Government officials have expressed support for the convention’s objectives, but no measures have been taken to join.[1] In April 2011, the Department of Foreign Affairs informed the Monitor of FSM’s “intention to be a party” to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.[2]
FSM did not participate in the Oslo Process that created the convention and has never attended a meeting of the convention.
On 7 December 2015, FSM voted in favor of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which urges states outside the convention to “join as soon as possible.”[3] FSM did not explain why it voted for the non-binding resolution that was adopted by 140 countries, including many non-signatories.
FSM has voted in favor of UNGA resolutions condemning the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in December 2015.[4]
Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling
FSM is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.
[1] In October 2009, a FSM representative cited FSM’s capacity constraints in meeting its treaty obligations and added that FSM’s Compact of Free Association with the United States (US) requires that FSM clear any strategic defense decisions with the US before it can join any international treaties. ICBL-CMC meeting with Martin Zvachula, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of FSM to the UN in New York, 19 October 2009. Notes by the ICBL-CMC.
[2] The official said that the convention would be submitted to congress for action simultaneous to that required to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Letter from Lorin S. Robert, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs of FSM to Mark Hiznay, Human Rights Watch, 29 April 2011.
[3] “Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” UNGA Resolution 70/54, 7 December 2015.
[4] “Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic,” UNGA Resolution 70/234, 23 December 2015.
Mine Ban Policy
Mine Ban Policy Overview
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Mine Ban Treaty status |
Not a State Party |
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Pro-mine ban UNGA voting record |
Voted in favor of Resolution 66/29 in December 2011, for the sixth consecutive year |
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Participation in Mine Ban Treaty meetings |
Observer delegation attended the Eleventh Meeting of States Parties in November–December 2011 |
Policy
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has not yet acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. The FSM has stated that it has never produced or stockpiled antipersonnel mines.[1]
The FSM attended as an observer to the Eleventh Meeting of State Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in November–December 2010 in Phnom Penh, but did not make any statement. It did not attend the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in May 2012.
In November 2011, a draft resolution recommending accession to the Mine Ban Treaty was presented to the 17th Congress of the FSM, but failed to pass.[2] A previous draft resolution approving accession was submitted and failed in 2009.[3]
Representatives of the mission of the Marshall Islands based in Fiji met with Special Envoy on the Universalization Prince Mired in August 2011 during which they were invited “to participate in the work of this Convention even while their accession deliberations continue.”[4]
In October 2009, an FSM representative said the Mine Ban Treaty is not a legislative priority as the country is not impacted by, nor has it ever used, mines.[5]
A United States (US) Department of State cable made public by Wikileaks in August 2011 provides US views on Micronesia’s accession to the Mine Ban Treaty.[6] According to the September 2009 cable from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US officials met representatives from the Marshall Islands, the FSM, and Palau on 2 December 1997, one day before the Mine Ban Treaty Signing Conference was held, “at the latter three’s request to discuss their potential signature/ratification of the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines.” During the meeting, the US said that “adherence to the Convention is up to each state based on its assessment of its own national interest,” but emphasized that “the U.S. would not adhere to the Ottawa Convention and that adherence by the other three states could conflict with defense provisions of the respective bilateral Compacts of Free Association.” In an interview with the Monitor in October 2010, a government representative stated that one of the primary reasons why the FSM has not joined the Mine Ban Treaty is that defense arrangements with the US require the FSM to consult with the US on all military matters.[7]
Two days after the 1997 meeting, on 4 December 1997, the Marshall Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty, while Palau acceded a decade later on 18 November 2007. The cable notes that the US “raised these same concerns” with Palau “in advance” of its accession to the Mine Ban Treaty and said Palau “determined that the Ottawa Convention did not conflict with the Compact of Free Association.”
The FSM is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
[1] Letter from M.J. Mace, Assistant Attorney General, FSM, 11 December 1998.
[2] Council Resolution No. 17-70. 17th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, 9 November 2011, submitted by Representative Florencio S. Harper; Landmine Monitor meeting with Micronesian delegation, Phnom Penh, 30 November 2011.
[3] “Draft Resolution Ratifying the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,” CR No. 16-10, introduced by Joe N. Suka, 28 May 2009, www.fsmcongress.fm.
[4] Statement by Prince Mired Raad Al Hussein of Jordan, Special Envoy on the Universalization, Mine Ban Treaty Eleventh Meeting of States Parties, Phnom Penh, 1 December 2011, http://www.apminebanconvention.org/meetings-of-the-states-parties/11msp/what-happened/day-5-thursday-1-december/statements/?eID=dam_frontend_push&docID=13865.
[5] ICBL meeting with Martin Zvachula, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of the FSM to the UN in New York, 19 October 2009. See ICBL, “Report on CMC/ICBL Lobby Meetings: UNGA First Committee on Disarmament and International Security, New York, 12–23 October 2009.”
[6] “Concerns on Marshall Islands Ratification of the Ottawa Convention,” US Department of State cable 09STATE91952 dated 3 September 2009, released by Wikileaks on 26 August 2011, www.cablegatesearch.net.
[7] Interview with Martin Zvachula, Permanent Mission of the FSM to the UN in New York, 19 October 2010.
Mine Action
Contamination and Impact
In August 2008, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) noted that while there are no known mined areas in the country, four FSM states are affected by explosive remnants left over from World War II.[1] UXO, especially in Chuuk Lagoon, poses an environmental hazard and a danger to fishermen.[2]
[1] Government of the FSM, “FSM Participates in Landmine Treaty Workshop,” Press release, 22 August 2008, Palikir, Pohnpei, www.fsmgov.org.
[2] ICBL meeting with Martin Zvachula, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of the FSM to the UN, New York, 19 October 2009. See ICBL, “Report on CMC/ICBL Lobby Meetings: UNGA First Committee on Disarmament and International Security, New York, 12–23 October 2009.”