O’Neill to meet key Bougainville negotiators today
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill said yesterday he is looking forward to meeting with Bougainville president John Momis, and Bougainville referendum commission chairman Bertie Ahern at today’s joint supervisory board meeting in Port Moresby to discuss issues relating to the referendum in Bougainville.
“The purpose of the discussion today is to advance the goodwill and desire for stability for Bougainville,” he said.
“We will have the opportunity to review the work that is progressing to enable the referendum to take place in Bougainville this year in accordance with the peace agreement.
“All parties to the Bougainville peace process have reaffirmed their commitment to ensure that the referendum is free, fair and violence-free.
“There is a lot of work ahead of us, but there is a shared determination that the future of our people in Bougainville continues to improve and move on from the conflict of the past.”
Mr O’Neill said the appointment of Mr Ahern as chair of the Bougainville referendum commission would bring significant understanding to the table on the challenges that lay ahead.
“Mr Ahern has significant experience in peace-building,” he said.
“This is both as prime minister of Ireland during a difficult time for his country, and as a peace mediator in international conflicts.
“His engagement is appreciated in guiding the Bougainville referendum committee to deliver a successful resolution of the issues in Bougainville.
“The national government is committed to the referendum and working through the outstanding issues that need to be discussed.”
As Ireland’s prime minister from 1997 to 2008, Mr Ahern was involved in the successful negotiations of the Good Friday agreement between the British and Irish governments, and the political parties in Northern Ireland in April 1998.
Since leaving office, Mr Ahern has been involved in facilitating peace talks in the Ukraine, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, and Spain’s Basque area.
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