Why is the abbreviation of Palau "PW"? Why couldn't it be "PL"?

McGruff

PL is Poland and PA is Panama, but I don't know why Palau couldn't have PU. Maybe they didn't want it. LOL http://worldatlas.com/aatlas/ctycodes.htm Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Palau conventional short form: Palau local long form: Beluu er a Belau local short form: Belau former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ps.html Apr 18 06, 7:49 AM

Baloo55th

Palau is a republic in 'free association' with the USA. That means it handles all its own internal affairs, but the USA takes care of defence and some other external matters. Who is expected to attack Palau, I'm not sure... Possibly 'pu' means something in Palauan - my linguistics don't extend quite that far! Certainly sounds like 'poo'... [Edited content after editing question - McG] Apr 18 06, 9:23 AM

Flynn_17

At one point, Palau was a dependency of the Caroline Islands (see my quiz "Let's Go! Palau"). BL or BU would have made a lot more sense. [Edited content after editing question - McG] Apr 18 06, 11:23 AM

Baloo55th

BU is Burundi in one list. (It's RU in another - from the old Ruanda-Urundi days.) Can't actually find an international mark for Palau. However, with a population of 18,000, the basic economy of Palau and the distance from anywhere else, I can't see there being many people taking Palau registered vehicles abroad. There's probably an internet .something for Palau - can't find the list. Apr 18 06, 5:25 PM