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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General Invited to Assist in Resolving Current Crisis in Papua New Guinea

24 March 1997

Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku will visit Papua New Guinea tomorrow in a bid to assist in resolving the current crisis there. Chief Anyaoku is interrupting an official visit to Australia, having earlier had discussions with Prime Minister John Howard and his Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. In the last 24 hours, Chief Anyaoku has been in touch with all the parties concerned, including the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Julius Chan, the Governor-General, Sir Wiwa Korowi, the Speaker of the Parliament, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, and the former Army Chief, Brigadier-General Jerry Singirok. The subsequent invitation to the Secretary-General to visit was with the agreement of all parties concerned.

In expressing his concern about the situation in Papua New Guinea, Chief Anyaoku emphasised that the twin aims of his visit were to assist in a solution which upheld constitutional government and supported the maintenance of law and order, and the avoidance of potential further bloodshed.

 

97/13 24 March 1997

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