Palau

Compiled from the September 2006 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
Republic of Palau

PROFILE

GEOGRAPHY AND PEOPLE

HISTORY

GOVERNMENT

POLITICAL CONDITIONS

ECONOMY

FOREIGN RELATIONS

TRAVEL

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 458 sq. km. (about 190 sq. mi.) in eight main islands plus more than 250 islets.

Cities: Capital—Melekeok (pop. 391).

Terrain: Varies from mountainous main island to smaller, reef-rimmed coral islands.

Climate: Tropical.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective—Palauan.

Population: 19,907. Age structure: 72.2%–15-64 years of age; 5.7% over 65. Median age: 32.3.

Growth rate: 0.8%.

Ethnic groups: Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian elements.

Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Modekngei (an indigenous Palauan religion).

Languages: English (official in all 16 states), Palauan.

Education: Literacy—92%.

Health: Life expectancy—male 66 yrs.; female 74 yrs. Infant mortality rate—16.2/1,000.

Work force: Public sector–56%; private sector–44%.

Government

Type: Constitutional republic in free association with United States.

Independence: (from U.S.-administered UN trusteeship) October 1, 1994.

Constitution: January 1, 1981.

Government branches: Executive—president (head of state and government), vice president, cabinet. Legislative—bicameral parliament elected by popular vote. Judicial—Supreme Court, National Court, Court of Common Pleas, and the Land Court.

Economy

GDP: (2005) $144.7.

GDP per capita: $7,267.

National income: (GDP + foreign assistance) $184.4million.

National income per capita: $8,643.

GDP composition by sector: Public administration 23%, trade 20%, construction 15%, hotels & restaurants 11%, transportation and communications 9%, fisheries 2%, agriculture 1%, manufacturing and mining 1%.

Industry: Types—government, trade, construction, tourism.

Trade: Exports ($5.9 million, 2004)—fish, handicrafts. Export markets—U.S., Japan and Taiwan. Imports ($107.3 million)—fuel, food and beverages, manufactured goods. Import sources—U.S.(Guam), Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Korea.

External debt: $38 million (2006).

Currency: U.S. dollar.

GEOGRAPHY AND PEOPLE

The Republic of Palau consists of eight principal islands and more than 250 smaller ones lying roughly 500 miles southeast of the Philippines. The islands of Palau constitute part of the Caroline Islands chain. About 70% of Palauans live in the capital city of Koror on Koror Island. The capital, however, relocated in 2006 from Koror to a newly constructed complex in Melekeok State on the larger but less developed island of Babeldaob–the second largest island in all of Micronesia after Guam.

HISTORY

Palau was initially settled more than 4,000 years ago, probably by migrants from what today is Indonesia. British traders became prominent visitors in the 18th century, followed by expanding Spanish influence in the 19th century. Following its defeat in the Spanish-American War, Spain sold Palau and most of the rest of the Caroline Islands to Germany in 1899. Control passed to Japan in 1914 and then to the United States under UN auspices in 1947 as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Four of the Trust Territory districts formed a single federated Micronesian state in 1979, but this eventually dissolved as the individual districts–long culturally distinct–opted for more locally popular status. Palau approved a new constitution in 1981, subsequently signing a Compact of Free Association with the United States in 1982. After eight referenda and an amendment to the Palauan constitution, the Compact went into effect on October 1, 1994, marking Palau’s emergence from trusteeship to independence.

GOVERNMENT

Palau is a democratic republic with directly elected executive and legislative branches. Presidential elections take place every 4 years, at the same time as the United States’ presidential election, to select the president and the vice president, who run on separate tickets. The Palau National Congress (Olbiil era Kelulau) has two houses. The Senate has nine members elected nationwide. The House of Delegates has 16 members, one each from Palau’s 16 states. All of the legislators serve 4-year terms. Each state also elects its own governor and legislature. The Council of Chiefs, comprising the highest traditional chiefs from each of the 16 states, is an advisory body to the president. The Council is consulted on matters concerning traditional laws and customs. The judicial system consists of the Supreme Court–with trial and appellate divisions—, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Land Court. (Palau’s constitution has a provision for an additional National Court, but this is not currently active.) The current president, Tommy Remengesau, was re-elected for a second term on November 2, 2004, an election that also brought into office Vice President Elias Camsek Chin and several political newcomers to the Senate and the House.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 2/9/2006

President: Tommy REMENGESAU, Jr.

Vice President: Elias Camsek CHIN

Min. of Administration & Finance: Elbuchel SADANG

Min. of Commerce & Trade: Otoichi BESEBES

Min. of Community & Cultural Affairs: Alexander R. MEREP

Min. of Education: Mario KATOSANG

Min. of Health: Victor Minoru YANO

Min. of Justice: Elias Camsek CHIN

Min. of Resources & Development: Fritz KOSHIBA

Min. of State: Temmy SHMULL

Ambassador to the US: Hersey KYOTA

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Stuart BECK

Palau maintains an embassy at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006 (tel: 202-452-6814, fax: 202-452-6281). The Republic of Palau’s Mission to the United Nations is located at 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 575, New York, New York 10017 (tel: 212-813-0310, fax: 212-813-0317).

POLITICAL CONDITIONS

While calm in recent years, Palau witnessed several instances of political violence in the 1980s. The republic’s first president, Haruo I. Remeliik, was assassinated in 1985, with the Minister of State eventually found to be complicit in the crime. Palau’s third president, Lazurus Salii, committed suicide in September 1988 amidst bribery allegations. Salii’s personal assistant had been imprisoned several months earlier after being convicted of firing shots into the home of the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

Legislation making Palau an “offshore” financial center was passed by the Senate in 1998. In 2001 Palau passed its first bank regulation and anti-money laundering laws.

ECONOMY

Palau’s per capita GDP of $7,267 makes it one of the wealthier Pacific Island states. Nominal GDP increased by an annual average of nearly 14% from 1983 to 1990, and by an annual rate of over 10% from 1991 to 1997. Growth turned sharply negative in 1998 and 1999 as a result of the Asian financial crisis, but there has been a gradual rebound in recent years and the economy grew by 5.4 percent in 2005.

Tourism (and its attendant infrastructure changes) is Palau’s main industry. Its major draws are its diverse and pristine marine environment, and its above water tropical island beauty. The number of visitors—75% of whom come from Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S.—exceeded 86,000 in 2005, but this number represented a 9% decline from 2004,. Continental Airlines, Far Eastern Transport (FAT), and Asian Spirit have direct flights to Palau from Taiwan, Philippines and Guam.

Japan Airlines runs chartered flights to Tokyo. In 2002–the last year for which figures are available—tourist spending in Palau was $66 million. Palauan tourism and environmental authorities would like to adjust the industry, simultaneously decreasing tourist volume and increasing income while by attracting more high-dollar tourists.

The service sector dominates the Palauan economy, contributing more than 50% of GDP and employing more than half of the work force. The government alone employs nearly 25% of workers and accounts for 23% of the GDP. One of the government’s main responsibilities is administering external assistance. Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association with the United States, Palau will receive more than $450 million in assistance over 15 years and is eligible to participate in more than 40 federal programs. The first grant of $142 million was made in 1994. Further annual payments in lesser amounts will be made through 2009. Total U.S. grant income in 2005 was $25.9 million.

Construction is an important industrial activity, contributing over 15% of GDP. Several large infrastructure projects, including the Compact Road, relocation of the new capital, and new hotels, have boosted this sector’s recent contribution to GDP. Agriculture is mainly on a subsistence level, the principal crops being coconuts, taro, and bananas. Fishing is a potential source of revenue, but the islands’ tuna output dropped by over one-third during the 1990s. Revenues in fishing industry are mostly from license fees from fishing vessels.

The main economic challenge confronting Palau is to ensure the long-term viability of its economy by reducing its reliance on foreign assistance. The Compact of Free Association created a trust fund to provide perennial budget support when U.S. direct assistance ends in 2009. The value of the trust fund in 2005 was approximately $150 million.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Palau gained its independence October 1, 1994 with the entry into force of the Compact of Free Association with the United States. Palau was the last Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands territories to gain its independence. Under the Compact, the U.S. remains responsible for Palau’s defense for 50 years. Palau is a sovereign nation and conducts its own foreign relations. Since independence, Palau has established diplomatic relations with a number of nations, including many of its Pacific neighbors, and is one of two dozen nations that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Palau was admitted to the United Nations on December 15, 1994, and has since joined a number of other international organizations.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

KOROR (E) Address: P.O. Box 6028, Koror, PW 96940; Phone: (680)488-2920/2990; Fax: (680)488-2911; INMARSAT Tel: 383/32623/24; Workweek: 07:30-11:30 12:30-4:30.

Last Updated: 11/1/2006

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet : August 22, 2006

Country Description: The Republic of Palau is a constitutional democracy in free association with the United States. Palau is an archipelago consisting of several hundred volcanic and limestone islands and coral atolls, few of which are inhabited, and is politically divided into 16 states. Palau has a developing agrarian economy. There are two kinds of public transportation available, taxi and Airai bus service. Palau International Airport is located on Babeldaob Island, near Koror Island. Direct commercial air service exists from Manila, Taipei and Guam to Palau and also from Palau to Davao, Philippines and Davao, Philippines to Palau.

Entry Requirements: Citizens and nationals of the United States of America must have either a valid passport or a combination of a valid identification document containing a photograph of the holder issued by the United States of America or any of its states, cities, counties, towns or other political subdivisions, and a document containing proof of citizenship of the United States of America. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens visiting Palau for one year or less, provided the visitor otherwise complies with applicable regulations, for example, on employment. For more information about entry requirements of Palau, travelers may consult with the Embassy of Palau, 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 452-6814. Visit the Embassy of Palau’s web site at http://www.palauembassy.com/for the most current information.

Safety and Security: For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site, where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Crime: Although, the crime rate in Palau is relatively low, foreign residents can be the target of petty and sometimes violent crimes, as well as other random acts against individuals and property. Therefore, visitors should not be complacent regarding personal safety or the protection of valuables.

Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney, if needed.

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Health facilities in Palau are adequate for routine medical care, but limited in availability and quality. For scuba divers, there is a modern recompression chamber with certified operator at the Belau National Hospital in Koror. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Serious medical conditions requiring hospitalization or evacuation to the United States, or elsewhere, may cost thousands of dollars.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Palau is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Palau accepts a driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or military authority. Roads in Koror, where the vast majority of the population lives, are in fair condition, but lack sidewalks and have little or no shoulder. Roads on the island of Babeldaob are under construction, with completion scheduled for 2006. The maximum speed limit is 25 miles per hour, but slower in congested areas. Passing slow-moving vehicles is prohibited.

Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Palau, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Palau’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s internet web site at http://www.faa.gov.

Special Circumstances: The official currency of Palau is the U.S. dollar. Major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, are accepted in most locations catering to tourists. There are several ATMs in Koror, located at branches of U.S. banks.

Koror State, where most tourist facilities are located, enforces a curfew between 2:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Monday to Thursday, and between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Friday to Sunday and on national holidays.

Firearms of any kind are strictly prohibited in Palau. The penalty for possession of a firearm or ammunition is up to fifteen years imprisonment. Palau customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Palau of certain items. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Palau in Washington, D.C., for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country’s laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than those in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Palauan laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession of, use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Palau are strict, and convicted traffickers face a mandatory twenty-five year jail sentence and USD 50,000 fine. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children’s Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children’s Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/family_1732.html.

Registration/Embassy Location: Americans living in or visiting Palau are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Koror or through the State Department’s travel registration website, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Palau. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located in Koror, the capital city, in an area known as Ngermid Hamlet. There is no street address. The mailing address is: P.O. Box 6028, Koror, Palau 96940. The telephone number is (680) 488-2920/2990. The fax number is (680) 488-2911. The Embassy does not issue passports; that function is performed by the Honolulu Passport Agency.