Outgoing US official doesn't rule out statehood for Guam
Updated
The outgoing US deputy assistant secretary for Insular Affairs says eventual statehood for the Pacific territory of Guam could be a possibility. David Cohen, the Bush administration's most senior figure dealing with US territories in the Pacific, was responding to a call by Guam's Governor, Felix Camacho, for the island to consider reuniting with the neighbouring Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and together applying to become America's 51st state.
He made it clear that this was a long-term project, and would depend of the agreement of the people and Guam and CNMI, plus the approval of the US Congress. Mr Cohen, who stepped down from his position at the beginning of this year, agrees that such a development is unlikely in the short term.
Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: David Cohen, Former US deputy assistant secretary for Insular Affairs
