Overview:
Palau’s new embassy in Australia is expected to open by July or August, President Surangel Whipps Jr. announced, marking a new step in strengthening diplomatic ties between the two Pacific partners. The opening will coincide with Ambassador Roland Tangelbad’s presentation of credentials, while preparations are already underway ahead of Whipps’ planned state visit to Australia in October.
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau — Palau’s embassy in Australia is expected to open in July or August, President Surangel Whipps Jr. said last week.
“They were saying that sometime in July or August they can open,” Whipps told reporters during a press conference.
Whipps said Australia is waiting for Palau to establish its embassy before Ambassador Roland Merar can formally present his credentials.
“The presentation of credentials will be done at the same time when the office opens,” he said.
The president added that his assistant, Hadden Seklii, has already traveled to Australia to help prepare for the embassy’s opening, and that Tangelbad will follow soon.
Whipps also announced a planned state visit to Australia in October, at the invitation of the Australian government.
“We have a proposed state visit to Australia — Australia has invited me to go in October,” he said.
Whipps said he hopes the embassy will be operational by then. “Hopefully, by then our embassy will have opened, so when we go to Australia, we can see them,” he said.
