• Commonwealth:
• News:
• News Archive Search:
• Secretary-General Visits Papua New Guinea

Secretary-General Visits Papua New Guinea

26 May 2004

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon is paying an official visit to Papua New Guinea. On 26 May 2004 he arrived in Port Moresby where he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Sir Rabbie Namaliu.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon with Rt Hon Sir Rabbie Namaliu, MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Immigration, Papua New Guinea

During his visit, the Secretary-General is expected to meet with the Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, and other ministers.

Mr McKinnon's discussions in Port Moresby are likely to cover mandates from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Abuja, Nigeria, last December. Regional issues and other matters of shared interest, including preparations for the 2005 CHOGM in Malta, are also on the agenda.

The Secretary-General will also visit Bougainville, where he will apprise himself of recent developments and progress on the peace process. Mr McKinnon has had a long association with Bougainville. As New Zealand Foreign Minister, he led efforts to restore peace on the island in the mid-1990s.