Micronesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010

This review covers a portion of the president's and vice president's travel; the Micronesia Presidents' Summit in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands; proposed amendments to the Federated States of Micronesia constitution; the issue of acting President Peter Christian's return to public life; and several ambassadors' presentation of credentials. Dominating the news for the past year on Guam was the issue of the pending relocation of 8,600 US Marines from Okinawa to Guam, the building of a new aircraft carrier wharf and facilities, and the establishment of a new army ballistic missile defense base over the next few years. The period under review for the Republic of the Marshall Islands has been one of unprecedented events, including the removal of a president and a potential constitutional crisis, the unsatisfactory resolution of numerous issues related to the Compact of Free Association with the United States, a variety of health issues and diplomatic forays that thrust the islands into the global spotlight, and a pair of international incidents that have painted the nation in an unfavorable light in the eyes of the world press. Adapted from the source document.