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PALIKIR, Federated States of Micronesia (August 1, 1997 - PIDP/CPIS)---An appropriation of US$800,000 by the Federated States of Micronesia Congress, to purchase land in each of the four FSM states for the construction of national government office buildings, has been approved by President Jacob Nena.

Funding ranging between $150,000 and $250,00 each will be made available for land acquisition in Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohpei, and Yap states.

In approving the funds, President Nena said they will remain available for expenditure until September 30, 2000.

AND AUSTRALIA: GREENPEACE

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (July 31, 1997 - PIDP/CPIS)---The international environmental organization, Greenpeace, says British Meteorological Office reports show that a ship carrying highly radioactive nuclear waste passed within 100 miles of the Solomon Islands, about 60 miles from New Caledonia, and inside Australia's 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) earlier this year.

Involved was the Pacific Teal, a British-flagged freighter carrying nuclear waste from a French reprocessing plant to Japan.

Shipments of plutonium and nuclear waste, conducted by Japan, France, and the UK in 1992 and again early this year, have generated vocal international concern.

Many Pacific Islands states, says Greenpeace spokesperson Stephanie Mills, opposed the Pacific Teal's transit through the region."

Among the nations prohibiting such shipments within their EEZ's are New Zealand, Chile, and Malaysia

Greenpeace campaigner in Honiara...

SUVA, Fiji (July 31, 1997 - PACNEWS)---The strike by 2,500 Fiji Sugar and General Workers Union (FSGWU) mill workers now is in its 11th day.

The Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) says it is willing to enter into dialogue with the union, provided its striking members return to work at Fiji's four mills.

FSC Managing Director Jonetani Galuinadi says talks between both parties prior to the strike ended in a deadlock because the union refused to accept the FSC's conclusion that it was unable to grant a pay increase to the workers.

Galuinadi suggests that the strike is not over occupational health and safety concerns, as the union states, but over the demand for a pay raise. He believes the union now is using legal technicalities to prolong the strike on health and safety issues.

Meantime, the Fiji Sugar Industry Tribunal head, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, says there's little point in beginning arbitration of the sugar strike at this stage, as it may only prolong the...

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (July 30, 1997 - Samoa News)---The US Department of Justice is reviewing documentation pertaining to the award of a multi-million dollar contract to Mobil Oil to manage American Samoa's Gataivai Tank Farm, according to Acting Governor Togiola Tulafono.

The federal probe will determine whether the US Department of Justice will intervene or not.

The review was prompted by a petition filed by Global-Kingstate Oil of California, one of the unsuccessful bidders for the contract.

The petitioners have requested the US District Court of Northern California to intervene and launch an independent review to determine how Governor Tauese Sunia, in his capacity as American Samoa's Chief Procurement Officer, had decided to award the contract to Mobil Oil.

"As you are aware, the (American Samoa government's) terminal operations and supply are under the oversight responsibility of the United States District Court of Northern California and the...