Palau has never participated with any type of contribution in UN peacekeeping operations, and at this time, Palau does not have representation in New York. Palau has provided police officers to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands since May 2006 (RAMSI 2006e, par. 1). Similar to the rest of the countries in this group, Palau’s lack of defence forces was the main obstacle to participation in UN peacekeeping operations. The reason why Palau wants to participate relies on its economic environment, because many islanders want to join the peacekeeping mission which offers "lucrative salaries" (PAC 2006, 1).
Initial variables of the data collection process:
UN/UN peacekeeping policy reform
No record.
Initial variables of the data collection process:
UN/UN peacekeeping policy reform
No record.
Perception of peacekeeping
Palau is interested in participating in UN peacekeeping.
Domestic political environment
Senator Joshua Koshiba, chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and State Relations, said that “Stuart Beck, the Palau’s Ambassador to the United Nations, is also trying to convince the Palau government to establish an advanced police force so the UN can recruit them” (Ibid.).
Domestic economic environment
Senator Koshiba said that Ambassador Beck told him that many islanders want to join the peacekeeping mission which offers "lucrative salaries" (Ibid.). Many other countries contribute troops for the same reason.
Military affairs
The United States is responsible for defence (Thomson 2006o, par. 4). Palau has no armed forces and does not have US armed forces within its borders except for a small contingent of US Navy Seabees who undertake civil action projects (Ibid.).
Foreign policy
Palau became independent in 1994, after being part of a United Nations trust territory administered by the US for 47 years (BBC 2006as, par. 4). Palau has received a notice of its eligibility to be a member of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations (PAC 2006, 2). This was based on Palau’s status as a new police contributing country and a new troop contributing country (Ibid.). Palau’s Ambassador to the United Nations Stuart Beck earlier requested the U.N. to allow this Pacific island nation to participate in the 2006 special committee sessions (Ibid.).
The environment is also a strong issue on Palau’s agenda:
“The Nadi Declaration puts the world on notice that our Pacific leaders will act decisively to protect our oceans from this existential threat,” said Palau’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Stuart Beck. “Not since the PIF leaders called upon the world in Tarawa in 1989 to end driftnet fishing have we been so strongly united. We have no choice but to fight hard in the months ahead.” The PIF includes: Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. (UN-Palau 2006, par. 5)
Additional variables found after the preliminary analysis:
Climate changes
The Heads of State and Government of the 16 PIF countries took an unmistakably decisive stand today against destructive bottom trawling at the thirty-sixth annual leaders meeting in Nadi, Fiji (Ibid., par. 1). The Nadi Declaration commits the PIF countries to advocate for prohibitions on bottom trawling and other destructive fishing practices in international waters until appropriate conservation and management measures are in place (Ibid.).
Independent negotiations taken by DPKO to seek troops
No record.
Independent negotiations taken by contributor countries to engage non-contributor countries
No record.
Meetings organized by other international organizations to engage in dialogue about peacekeeping
No record.
