Foreigners were confused — Nauru has changed its name to Naoero
The tiny island nation announced a change of its name to Naoero, in a move intended to honor the national heritage.
The president of the island nation of Nauru in the South Pacific has announced an unusual step: the country he leads has changed its name. According to an official statement, the country's name has been changed from Nauru to the Republic of Naoero, with the goal of establishing the name as it is pronounced by its local inhabitants.
The country was known throughout the world as Nauru (pronounced Now-roo) because its local name was difficult for foreigners to pronounce. In an official announcement, the government stated that the previous international name was a result of convenience rather than a deliberate choice. The parliament unanimously approved the name change back in May, and it is now becoming official.
"The proposed change is intended to more faithfully honor the heritage of our nation, our language, and our identity," the government stated on social media when it presented the proposal.
Naoero is a small island nation of about 21 square kilometers and 12,000 residents — the third-smallest country in the world in terms of population, after Tuvalu and Vatican City. It was a colony of Germany and was subsequently administered by Australia until it became an independent republic in 1968. Naoero is located in the South Pacific, in the region of Australia and Papua New Guinea.
About two weeks ago, the Foreign Minister of Naoero visited Israel and announced the opening of an embassy that will be located in Jerusalem in the coming months. The small country is one of the most consistent supporters of Israel at the UN and submitted a political opinion in favor of Israel in the case against Israel at the court in The Hague.
