Commonwealth Secretariat
  1. Home
  2. What's New
  3. Who We Are
  4. What We Do
    1. Democracy
    2. Economics
    3. Education
    4. Gender
    5. Governance
    6. Health
    7. Human Rights
    8. Law
    9. Small States
    10. Sport
    11. Sustainability
    12. Youth
    13. Millennium Development Goals
    14. Funding
  5. News
    1. Events
    2. News Archive Search
    3. Picture Stories
  6. Media Room
    1. Press Archive Search
    2. Media Contacts
    3. Video
    4. Events
    5. In the Media
    6. Updates
    7. Downloads
  7. Resources
    1. Documents
    2. Image Library
    3. Libary & Archives
    4. Publications
  8. Publications
  9. Employment
  10. FAQs
    1. Acronyms
  11. Contact Us
Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General Welcomes Bougainville Peace Agreement

1 June 2001

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon today welcomed reports that a peace agreement has been signed between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the representatives of the people of Bougainville. The agreement, signed on 1 June in Port Moresby, allows for autonomy for the island of Bougainville and a referendum on its independence within 10 - 15 years.

The Secretary-General said, "I am very pleased that a peace agreement has been reached. This is an important step forward for the people of Bougainville and for Papua New Guinea and I welcome the commitment of all parties to it."

Mr McKinnon said that the Commonwealth stood ready to assist in implementing the terms of the agreement.


Note to Editors:
Prior to becoming Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr McKinnon was, in his capacity as New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, instrumental in re-starting the peace process on Bougainville in 1996. This resulted in the 'Burnham Agreement (July 1997)', the 'Burnham Truce' (October 1997) and the Lincoln Agreement (January 1998), which provided the basis for continuing talks between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville factions involved in the conflict.





01/37 1 June 2001


Share this page
About this

ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int