Bougainville Peace Process - Political Settlement Close - Media release

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Media Release

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer

20 June 2001

Bougainville Peace Process - Political Settlement Close

I warmly welcome the joint statement issued on 18 June 2001 by the Papua New Guinea National Government and Bougainville leaders that they are very close to concluding a comprehensive political settlement which will shortly be put to the National Executive Council for endorsement.

This progress comes at the conclusion of several weeks of intense negotiations on the legal and political framework within which the autonomous Bougainville Government will be established and operate. I understand that text of the agreement on the arrangements for autonomy is now being finalised.

Together with the earlier agreement on 26 January this year on Bougainville's future political status and the agreement on 9 May on plans for the disposal of weapons, an agreement on autonomy will represent the major concluding step in the process of finalising an overall political settlement for Bougainville.

I congratulate the leaders of the delegations engaged in the negotiations for the patience and flexibility that has enabled such impressive progress in the first six months of 2001. I also acknowledge the key role played by many ex-combatants who have been present in Port Moresby during the negotiations over the past few weeks.

Australia has long maintained that we will support any agreement that is negotiated by the parties. It is immensely satisfying to see that the many months of negotiations are now on the verge of producing an agreement that is for the common good of Papua New Guinea.

Australia will continue to support the peace process on Bougainville.

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