WAM New York, Oct 17th, 2009 (WAM): United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Palau have issued a joint statement on the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries at ambassadorial level as of October 16, 2009. The communique was

WAM New York, Oct 17th, 2009 (WAM): United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Palau have issued a joint statement on the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries at ambassadorial level as of October 16, 2009.

The communique was signed on Friday at the Permanent Mission headquarters of the UAE to the United Nations in New York by Ambassador HE Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Jarman, UAE's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and by the Ambassador of the Republic of Palau HE Stuart Beck, Palau's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in the presence of the members of the diplomatic missions of both countries.

The joint statement, which was filed with the United Nations in both Arabic and English, mentioned their mutual willingness to promote mutual understanding and strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and scientific areas based upon the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and the norms of international law.

The statement also stressed their respect for the principles of equality among States, national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of other States.

The statement also endorsed the establishment of diplomatic relations, at ambassadorial level, in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961, as of the date of the signing of this Joint Communique.

After the signing ceremony the two ambassadors discussed political, cultural, economic relations between the two countries and the ways to strengthen them.

Palau is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 800 km east of the Philippines 3,200 km south of Tokyo. Having emerged from United Nations trusteeship (administered by the United States) in 1994, it is one of the world's youngest and smallest sovereign states.

WAM/AB