The Pacific Island country of Nauru has changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, its president said, matching the spelling and pronunciation in the national language.
Background
The country’s international code will change from NRU to NRO and its people will be known as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan. Commonly known abroad by the pronunciation of Now-roo, the new name is spoken as Now-ero.
The move returns the remote South Pacific island nation to its traditional name, a statement posted Thursday to the government’s Facebook account said. The country became known internationally as Nauru only because its local name was difficult for foreigners to pronounce and was a matter of convenience rather than one of choice, according to an earlier government statement.
With 12,000 residents, Nauru is the world’s third-smallest country by population size, after Tuvalu and Vatican City. The tiny coral limestone atoll was colonized by Germany and later administered by Australia before becoming an independent republic in 1968.
Reasons Behind the Change
President David Adeang said when he proposed the move to Parliament in January, “This proposed change seeks to more faithfully honor our nation’s heritage, our language, and our identity.” The suggested constitutional amendment has been endorsed by lawmakers in the requisite two rounds of voting.
The country is one of the world’s most at risk from rising seas due to climate change, prompting the government to seek overseas investment through a paid citizenship program intended to fund the movement of people and infrastructure away from the encroaching ocean.
The name change indicated “the beginning of renewed national pride,” Adeang said in his latest announcement. When his government last voted for the move in May, the president announced a referendum to confirm it.
The government said in last week’s statement that after “extensive discussions,” lawmakers had decided a public vote wasn’t needed.
“While a referendum is intended to determine the will of the people, the name Naoero has never been lost, but rather waiting to be fully embraced,” the statement said.
The designation “is already the identity of the people, is on the national coat of arms, and spoken in the community; and importantly is allowed by the Constitution,” it added.
International Recognition
The website of the United Nations records the country by its new name, noting the government had requested it be changed in June. Australia and New Zealand’s foreign ministries as well as the U.S. and Chinese embassies in the region also designate the country as Naoero on their websites.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
