talks to finalise nip, abg reconciliation

in Arawa ;-))))))))

http://www.thenational.com.pg/052009/nation8.php

By EVAH BANIGE
RECONCILIATION ceremonies between the people of New Ireland province and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville have been reopened with the consultative process for the second phase.
A ministerial delegation from Buka was in Kavieng at the weekend for discussions on the proposal to hold the reconciliation ceremonies.
The ceremonies will coincide with the islands’ regional governors conference and the fourth anniversary of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville next month.
The Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, Joseph Watawi, and Chief Simon Bremen met with officials from the administration and the New Ireland provincial government to discuss tentative programmes and logistics of involving the islands’ governors in the ceremonies that they were proposing to hold in the central Bougainville township of Arawa.
Mr Watawi said at the meeting in Kavieng, the process of reconciliation was initiated by the late president Joseph Kabui and New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan.
The meeting was to identify details of practical steps to firm up the final phase of the reconciliation process in line with the April 21 invitation letter from new ABG president James Tanis to Sir Julius and the people of New Ireland.
The Kavieng meeting agreed to establish a working committee that would identify the traditional and customary symbolic acts and protocols unique to both provinces as well as to the people of the provinces.
The meeting also set out to determine the venue – whether it would be Buka or Arawa.
However, it was clear that the ABG anniversary was being organised to happen in the centrally located township of Arawa.
In a statement released from Port Moresby yesterday, Sir Julius said New Ireland would co-operate fully to encompass the true spirit of unity and reconciliation begun by the late president, and the commitment by Mr Tanis’ new government to bring it to conclusion.
Sir Julius said the full status of reconciliation could not be completed if elements of the agreed principles were not met.
He said he admired the determination shown by the new leadership and the president to capture the previous president’s vision and complete what the late Joseph Kabui had set out to do.
Sir Julius described the late president as a warrior of principles who offered his hand of friendship.
The late president had met with Sir Julius and the people of New Ireland for the reconciliation ceremony on May 4 last year and offered a second phase to cement the renewed friendship after the Bougainville conflict.