Changes

===Principal U.S. Officials===

===Principal U.S. Officials===

Ambassador (accredited to both New Zealand and Samoa; resident in Wellington)--William P. McCormick

Ambassador (accredited to both New Zealand and Samoa; resident in Wellington)--William P. McCormick

Charge d'Affaires—George W. Colvin Jr.  

Chargé d'Affaires—George W. Colvin Jr.  

The U.S. Embassy is located on the 5th Floor of the Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Building, Beach Road, Apia. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 3430, Apia. Phone: [685] 21631. Email: usembassy@samoa.net.

The U.S. Embassy is located on the 5th Floor of the Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Building, Beach Road, Apia. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 3430, Apia. Phone: [685] 21631. Email: usembassy@samoa.net.

The Samoan Government was an outspoken critic of the French decision to resume nuclear weapons testing in the South Pacific in 1995. Large-scale street demonstrations were held in Apia against the French tests, which concluded in 1996. The Samoan Government also banned visits to Samoa by French warships and aircraft for several years. This ban has now been lifted, and a French warship visited Apia in July 2006.  

The Samoan Government was an outspoken critic of the French decision to resume nuclear weapons testing in the South Pacific in 1995. Large-scale street demonstrations were held in Apia against the French tests, which concluded in 1996. The Samoan Government also banned visits to Samoa by French warships and aircraft for several years. This ban has now been lifted, and a French warship visited Apia in July 2006.  

The Government of Samoa has a strong relationship with the Government of the People's Republic of China (P.R.C). The P.R.C. has provided substantial assistance to Samoa, including an economic grant agreement for new development projects valued at $2.6 million concluded in April 2007. Assistance from the P.R.C. has been especially focused on construction projects, including the main government building as well as performance venues for the South Pacific Games, which Samoa hosted in August/September 2007. The P.R.C started construction in September 2007 of two complexes for the Samoan parliament and Justice Department, with another multi-million dollar ministry building in the pipeline.  

The Government of Samoa has a strong relationship with the Government of the People's Republic of China (P.R.C). The P.R.C. has provided substantial assistance to Samoa, including an economic grant agreement for new development projects valued at $2.6 million concluded in April 2007. Assistance from the P.R.C. has been especially focused on construction projects, including the main government building as well as performance venues for the South Pacific Games, which Samoa hosted in August/September 2007. The P.R.C started construction in September 2007 of two complexes for the Samoan parliament and Justice Department, with another multimillion-dollar ministry building in the pipeline.  

Since 1967, the United States has supported a substantial Peace Corps program in Samoa. Over 1,700 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Samoa over that time, with 51 Volunteers currently in-country. Peace Corps programs emphasize village-based development and capacity building. Other forms of U.S. assistance to Samoa are limited. The U.S. Embassy, staffed by a single officer, is the smallest Embassy in Samoa and one of the few one-officer U.S. Embassies in the world.  

Since 1967, the United States has supported a substantial Peace Corps program in Samoa. Over 1,700 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Samoa over that time, with 51 Volunteers currently in-country. Peace Corps programs emphasize village-based development and capacity building. Other forms of U.S. assistance to Samoa are limited. The U.S. Embassy, staffed by a single officer, is the smallest Embassy in Samoa and one of the few one-officer U.S. Embassies in the world.