24 Aug 2006

Samoa considering benefits and problems in providing land for the US military

8:11 pm on 24 August 2006

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, says a military training base for American Samoa in Savaii Island would be an excellent investment for his country.

But he has also voiced some concerns as his government ponders offering the US military the land as requested by his counterpart in American Samoa, Governor Togiola Tulafono.

Tuilalepa says one consideration is the very tough U.S. federal law requirement.

The prime minister has also pointed out that the US is not a member of the international convention which allows military crimes to be heard in the International Court of Justice.

Samoa is a member of the convention and one of its top lawyers is a judge on the Court.