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i JOINT STATEMENTEY EU(;iiCONMISSIONEREDFARD E, JOHNSTONAND AMBASSADOR . FRANKLINHAYDN WILLIAMSGIVEN AT SAIPANMARIANA ISLAND APRIL 18, 1972 micronesian status negotiations, and I would like to make 8 joint announcement concerning-the United States Government's land requirements in the trust Future land needs of-the Department of Defense were set forth during the fiird.round of status negotiations which took place at Hana Maui in October 1971. There Ambassador Williams stated that in regard to our security related land requirements in the Marshalls the need for research and development activities at Kwajalein would not disappear in the foreseeable'future. He however qualified this remark with the following statement: "It may some day becomepossible to&consolidate ourtesting 8ctivities in the Pacific and concurrently red& our land interests in the Marshalls." The United States Government appreciates the importance that the $cronesians ._ .place on land and has no desire to retain micronesian land that it does not need. Wbenever it can consolidate or eliminate activities in order to reduce or terminate the lands required for security purposes, it will do so. In this respect, the status of Eniwetok Atoll has been under study by the various departments and agencies in the United States Government ever since . 8 possibility of returning Bikini Atoll was first considered. Over the J-=+=-w= ment or?efense h as been striving to bring its work on assador Williams and I have taken a personal interest
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in this rjatteraqd this afternoon we are extremely pleased to announce that .the United States Government has in fact beetiable to structure its research plans and programs in such a way as to permit an early return of the atoll to the people of Eniwetok. I am therefore authorized to announce t-hat-theUnited States Government is \ prepared to release legally the entire atoll to the trust territory government at the end of 1973, stibject to retention of some minor residual rights. The trust territory government will in the coming'months be working with the Department of Defense and the people of Eniwetok to settle the details of transfer and to-make the arrangements for the survey, cleanup and rehabilitation of Eniwetok. In the meantime the United States is completing some research and development tests on the atoll which will not involve nuclear detonations of any kind or type. 'Thesetests will in no way interfere with an early commencement of the rehabilitation process and will be completed by the end Prior to the actual settlement of the atoll, it will be necessary to carry i out the same type of survey, PI~ea._nupand rehabilitation procedures been utilized for Bikini resettlement will depend Atoll. As in Bikini, the schedule for on the results of the survey and the pace of the This schedule will be drawn up as soon as practicable. Department of Energy As an initial step the United States plans to commence-the survey of the atoll pr@&ly Jate,+th&ssummer. The cleanup and rehabilitation of the three
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. -- in the southeastern part of the .atoll, will receive first priority. The trust territory iovernment Eniwetok on the actual plan of looks forward to.working with the people of the rehabilitation and returning of the atoll. They will be able to help us decide upon time schedules and actual locations for the pending program and the agriculture rehabilitation. The people of Eniwetok will be invited at an early date to visit Bikini and Eniwetok in-order to familiarize themselves with the program utilized for Bikini and the requirements for Eniwetok. . We hope by this joint planning effort to carry out the rehabilitation program in an efficient and wel.l.thoughtout manner as well as to meet local desires as much as possible. The trust territory government will enter into immediate Gsultation with the people of Eniwetok to commence the above process and to conclude any necessary legal arrangements. Departmentof Energy