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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Welcomes Bougainville Peace

14 October 1997

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, today welcomed the Bougainville peace agreement as "an important step towards reconciliation and a lasting settlement". He was commenting on the truce announced by the Papua New Guinean Government and Bougainville leaders at Burnham military camp in New Zealand.

The Secretary-General said the Commonwealth was ready to assist in the implementation of the formal ceasefire agreement and the steps to be taken thereafter, if required. He praised the efforts of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Mr Bill Skate, and Bougainville leaders who had "shown leadership and courage in making this commitment to peace". He commended the New Zealand Government for its role in facilitating the peace talks and the Australian Government for its support and assistance.

The Secretary-General said, "The Commonwealth has been closely involved in efforts to bring about a permanent peace on the island of Bougainville. This latest agreement is an important step towards reconciliation and a lasting settlement that we hope will finally bring an end to this divisive conflict. The Commonwealth stands ready to assist in the implementation of the formal ceasefire agreement and any subsequent steps, if required."

Note to Editors:
The truce which was signed at Burnham military camp by the Government of Papua New Guinea, the Bougainville Transitional Government (BTG), the Resistance, the Bougainville Interim Government (BIG) and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) on 10 October calls for the immediate end of armed conflict, a commitment to peace and reconciliation and the restoration of normal services. The agreement also recommends that the two sides immediately invite a neutral regional peacekeeping force to monitor the terms of the agreement. The agreement followed an earlier round of talks at Burnham in July this year.

The Commonwealth has been active 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 Bougainvillean 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.

Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division,
Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
Britain.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678

97/54 14 October 1997
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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