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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General Welcomes Loloata Understanding

1 April 2000

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Donald C McKinnon, today welcomed the Loloata Understanding agreed between the Government of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville leaders last week. He said:

As someone who has been deeply involved in the international effort to help towards the resolution of the Bougainville impasse, I am greatly encouraged by this very positive development.

Those involved will be the first to acknowledge that there is much more yet to be done. In particular, everyone on the island, many of who have gone through painful reconciliations, need to get behind this effort to settle the Bougainville issue on an agreed basis. This is a great start and I personally wish that the best outcome will emerge for all those involved and the autonomous status be given time to work.

The Commonwealth has consistently made clear that its good offices remain available to facilitate any genuine effort to resolve the Bougainville crisis. I know that all Commonwealth countries not only wish this new agreement well but also will do whatever they can to contribute to its success.

 

Note to Editors:

Prior to taking up his appointment as Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Donald McKinnon was, in his capacity as New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, instrumental in re-starting the peace process on Bougainville. This resulted in the 'Burnham Declaration' and the 'Burnham Truce', which provided the basis for continuing talks between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville factions involved in the conflict.

The Commonwealth has been involved in the Bougainville peace process since 1990, when a Commonwealth team was invited to assist in monitoring a proposed ceasefire. In December 1995, the Commonwealth co-chaired with the United Nations the second round of All Bougainville Talks in Cairns, Australia. In December 1996, the Secretary-General appointed a Commonwealth judge to head an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Premier Theodore Miriung, former leader of the Bougainville Transitional Government. The Commonwealth has continued to monitor political developments on Bougainville.

 

00/19 1 April, 2000

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