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By Luis Huang

TAIPEI, Taiwan (December 2, 1999 – China News Agency)---The Republic of China on Thursday signed a formal aviation agreement in Taipei with Palau as part of its efforts to facilitate exchanges between the two countries, said an official with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).

The bilateral aviation pact was jointly inked by ROC Transportation and Communications Minister Lin Fong-cheng and his Palauan counterpart after visiting Palau President Kuniwo Nakamura met with Lin and other ranking MOTC officials, and expressed interest in an air link agreement with the Pacific Island nation.

Under the terms of the agreement, several carriers can be designated by either country to operate the Taipei-Koror route, with four flights per week.

Taiwan’s Far East Air Transport Co., which already provides chartered flight services on the Taipei-Koror route under the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed on April 1997 and...

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Dec. 3, 1999 – Marshall Islands Journal)---United Democratic Party (UDP) members have indicated that they have a plan for selecting the next President of the RMI.

The group has agreed to wait for the final election results to be issued by the Electoral Administration. Once those results are issued, the UDP plans to hold an election among its members to determine who will be the UDP’s candidate for President when the Nitijela (parliament) convenes on January 3.

Three UDP senators are currently seeking the top position: Jabot Senator (and Speaker) Kessai Note, Majuro Senator Wilfred Kendall and Allinglaplap Senator Christopher Loeak.

UDP members say that their members have agreed to be bound by the result of that preliminary election.

The Marshall Islands Journal, Box 14, Majuro, Marshall Islands 96960 E-mail: journal@ntamar.com Subscriptions (weekly): 1 year US $87.00; international $213....

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (December 6, 1999 - FSM Information Service)---President Leo A. Falcam is visiting Kosrae today, accompanied by First Lady Iris and 20 cabinet members and officials from the FSM National Government.

President Falcam already has completed state visits to Chuuk and Yap and upon returning from Kosrae he will visit the State of Pohnpei before the holidays.

His State Visit to Kosrae will continue through December 9.

Upon arriving in Kosrae, the President will be met at the airport by local government and community leaders and an honor guard.

The President, during the State Visit, will meet with the Kosrae State leadership as well as visit infrastructure and project sites, including the National Aquaculture Center and the Lelu Ruins.

Kosrae Governor Rensley Sigrah will host a welcoming dinner reception for the President and his delegation this evening at the Nautilus Resort.

A farewell dinner will be hosted at the Kosrae...

SUVA, Fiji Islands (December 6, 1999 - PINA Nius Online)---Air Fiji has launched an ambitious plan to capture more regional destinations.

Currently serving Tuvalu and Tonga -- since it started flying regionally in September -- Fiji's domestic carrier is targeting the addition of five more regional destinations in the new year. They are: Kiribati, Niue, Vanuatu, Samoa, and Wallis and Futuna.

Manager Regional Services Arthur Whippy said the airline has already started negotiations with Kiribati and Niue. "We hope to start flying there early in the new year using our Embraer Brasilia," he said.

The fast 30-seater aircraft -- the airline's most recent acquisition -- currently operates from Suva's Nausori Airport:

Asked about how negotiations have gone, Whippy said the negotiations are almost complete with Kiribati and the airline is confident it will be given the go ahead. "If everything goes according to plan, we should be flying there in February."

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