Overview:
Palau’s diplomatic relationship with Australia has reached a new milestone as Ambassador Roland Merar formally presented his credentials, becoming the country’s first resident ambassador to Australia since diplomatic relations were established in 1994.
CANBERRA, Australia — Palau’s diplomatic presence in Australia has entered a new chapter with the formal presentation of credentials by Ambassador Roland Merar, the country’s first resident ambassador to Australia since the two nations established diplomatic relations in 1994.
Merar presented his Letter of Credence to Australia’s Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, on Wednesday, Aug. 5, formally beginning his diplomatic mission in Canberra.
Ambassador Roland Merar, His Wife: Lucy August Merar and Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
The ceremony, held at about 11:45 a.m., marked a significant step in the longstanding relationship between Palau and Australia. Merar was accompanied by his wife, Lucy August-Merar.
The appointment establishes a permanent Palauan diplomatic presence in Australia at a time when the two Pacific countries continue to strengthen their bilateral ties.
Australia established its own resident embassy in Koror in 2019, with the mission becoming fully operational on Dec. 17 of that year. Palau’s new embassy in Canberra now provides a permanent base for advancing Palau’s interests and engagement with Australia.
Palau Embassy staff member Hadden Seklii travelled to Australia several months ago to help prepare for the embassy’s opening and the start of its operations.
The new diplomatic mission is also being established as Palau prepares for a proposed state visit by President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. to Australia in October.
During a July 17 press conference, Whipps said Australia had invited him to visit in October and expressed hope that Palau’s embassy would be fully operational by then.
“We have a proposed state visit to Australia — Australia has invited me to go in October,” Whipps said. “Hopefully, by then our embassy will have opened, so when we go to Australia, we can see them.”
Following the presentation of his credentials, Merar welcomed the first official visitors to the Embassy of Palau in Canberra — officials from the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
The delegation included Marshall Islands Ambassador Junior Aini, based at the Marshall Islands Embassy in Fiji; Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani Kaneko; and Isabella Silk, secretary of foreign affairs of the Marshall Islands.
The visit highlighted the regional significance of Palau’s new diplomatic presence in Canberra, as Pacific island countries continue to deepen cooperation and strengthen their representation and relationships in Australia.
