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COMMONWEALTH OF 



THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS 



Statement of Jesus C. Borja 



June 1, 1995 



ownership, use, and control of these waters and resources by gen- 

 erations of Chamorro and Carolinian inhabitants of the Northern 

 Marianas. Our people have always claimed, defended, harvested 

 and depended on the marine resources of the ocean surrounding 

 their islands to distances approaching 200 miles. 



After winning the terrible battles fought in our islands 

 during World War II, the United States acquired governmental au- 

 thority in the Northern Marianas pursuant to the United Nations 

 Trusteeship Agreement for the Former Japanese Mandated Islands. 

 The Trusteeship Agreement did not make the United States sover- 

 eign in our islands. It recognized the resource rights of the 

 inhabitants of the Trust Territory, and obligated the United 

 States to protect our people against the loss of their re- 

 sources. 



In 1975, while the islands were still subject to the Trust- 

 eeship Agreement, our people approved by plebiscite the Covenant 

 to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Po- 

 litical Union with the United States of America. The Covenant 

 established a close political affiliation between the United 

 States and our Commonwealth. 



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