conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

PS

constitutional government in free association with
the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October
1994

Koror
note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror

18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur,
Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau,
Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island, Peleliu,
Sonsoral, Tobi

1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

1 January 1981

based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and
Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993)
and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by
popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 11 November 1996
(next to be held NA November 2000)
election results: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of vote
- Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E.
REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote - Tommy E.
REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%

bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK)
consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote on a
population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates
(16 seats - one from each state; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November 2000); House of Delegates - last held 11 November 1996 (next
to be held NA November 2000)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; House of Delegates - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - NA

Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas

Palau Nationalist Party [Polycarp
BASILIUS]

ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO

chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:  (202) 452-6814
FAX:  (202) 452-6281

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila);
Charge d'Affaires Allen E. NUGENT
embassy: address NA, Koror
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone:  488-2920, 2990
FAX:  488-2911

light blue with a large yellow disk (representing
the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side