| <PAKISTAN | PAPUA NEW GUINEA> |
Palau did not participate in the Ottawa Process and has not signed the Mine Ban Treaty. One possible reason could be Palau’s close economic, political and defense relationship with the United States, a non-signatory of the treaty. Since 1994, Palau has been an independent nation and member state of the United Nations but the United States continues to retain some rights to a third of Palauan territory through a Compact of Free Association which will last for fifty years.
There was fierce fighting in the islands of Palau in the latter stages of World War Two, but Palau is not believed to be mine-affected. Palau is not believed to have ever produced, transferred, stockpiled or used antipersonnel landmines.
