The Atoa o Samoa talks between the American Samoa and Samoa Governments officially start today in Apia with a prayer service led by the leader of the Catholic Church Archbishop Alapati Mataeliga, followed by an ava ceremony.
Yesterday, there were site visits by the American Samoa delegation to their counterpart ministries to progress discussions that began here in July.
A press release by the host government said the Second Atoa O Samoa meeting is an opportunity to discuss and focus on areas of mutual development cooperation between the two countries on issues relating to Health, Tourism, Economy, Education, Information and Communications Technology, Immigration and Agriculture, Tourism and others.
The first day of the meeting, proper today, at Taumeasina Hotel will begin with discussions on the July meeting minutes followed by presentations on the updates of work that has been done since then.
The meeting which is closed to the media concludes Friday.
TV1Samoa reports that the Samoa Police Service is not leaving security for the 88-member delegation from American Samoa to chance.
Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo confirmed that 200 officers are on security detail until the visitors all leave Saturday afternoon, Samoa time.
