Micronesia - An overview
The Federated States of Micronesia are an island state located in central Pacific. Tthe larger region of Micronesia is an area that includes thousands of islands belonging to different states.
The FSM is made of four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae and 607 islands, on which live around 111.000 people.
History
The FSM islands were discovered by Portuguese navigators in 1525, and were successively Spanish, German and Japanese colonies. After World War II, they became part of the United Nations Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands under U.S. administration.
In 1979 Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae adopted a common Constitution and created the Federated States of Micronesi that gained its independence from the US in 1986. Since 1991 the FSM is a member of the United Nations.
Government
The FSM has a constitutional government in free association with the US.
Emmanuel Mori is the chief of state and head of government since 2007. Ten Congress members are elected for two years and the others four for four years. There are no formal political parties.
Economy
The economic activity mainly consists in agriculture, fishing and tourism.
The country depends to a large extend on international aid, mostly from the United States, but these aids have been reduced since 2001.
For further information please visit the home page of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia : http://www.fsmgov.org/index.html
