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06 July 2014



President Thanks PM’s Visit
Anthony Kaybing
060714

The Autonomous Bougainville Government and the National Government held its first Joint Supervisory Board meeting for this year in Kokopo in the East New Britain Province last Friday.
The ABG delegation was led by President Chief Dr John Momis whilst the National Government team was led by Deputy Prime Minister, Leo Dion.
In his first address to the JSB President Momis thank the Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill and his party for going to Bougainville early this year.
“Since his time as Treasurer the Prime Minister has worked to develop his understanding of Bougainville’s aspirations, needs and autonomy,” the President said.
“I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made with the Prime Minister, and especially in the last ten months, in our joint journey towards the realization of the cherished objectives of the Bougainville Peace Agreement,” he added.
The historic visit for the first time saw a PNG Prime Minister making a solemn apology to the people of Bougainville on behalf of the PNG Government and the people of Papua New Guinea on issues that led to the Bougainville Crises.
The Prime Minister also declared that the National Government is firmly committed to fully implementing the peace agreement and returning normalcy to their lives.
“On behalf of the Bougainville Government I again acknowledge this apology and the support for Bougainville from the Prime Minister,” President Momis said.
President Momis said the visit by the PM signifies the renewal of commitments to the autonomy arrangements provided in PNG’s constitutional laws as mandated under the Bougainville Peace Agreement by the National Government and of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
The President said the Bougainville Peace Agreement gives direction and focus to our mission, aim and purpose in Bougainville “we will no nor can we change the Bougainville Peace Agreement which was jointly negotiated and agreed.
“It is an agreement that lead to the end the longest lasting and damaging war among Pacific peoples in modern times,” he added.
The President stressed that the Bougainville Government is a constitutionally established and highly autonomous government.
“I stressed this to the Honourable Prime Minister, and his ministers, because sometimes in the past we have felt we are not treated as a government with a high level of constitutionally guaranteed autonomy” he said.
The visit enabled the Prime Minister to see for himself Bougainville’s urgent need for a reliable stream of funding, as provided for in the Peace Agreement, to re-establish services and infrastructure.
President Momis again thanked Prime Minister O’Neil for the steps he took to reconcile with the people of Bougainville during his historic visit to Bougainville.

Ends