|
THE Solomon Islands government
is looking forward to continue close and strong working relationship
with the new PNG government formed after the general election.
Speaking in Lae during celebrations to mark the Solomon Islands 29th
Independence anniversary, Solomon Islands High Commissioner Bernard
Bata’anisia said the two Melanesian countries enjoyed a close
relationship since diplomatic relations established in 1978.
He said the relationship had been close despite social and political
pressure from others.
The two were recently embroiled in a controversy with Australia over the
appointment of Julian Moti as the attorney-general of Solomon Islands,
and his escape from arrest in Port Moresby using a PNG Defence Force
aircraft last October.
Australia wanted Moti to face child sex charges, and is opposed to his
appointment as attorney-general.
Mr Bata’anisia was in Lae to celebrate his country’s independence
anniversary with Solomon Islands students attending the PNG University
of Technology.
He commended the PNG government for assisting the regional assistance
mission to Solomon Islands (Ramsi) to restore law and order in the
country.
“PNG has played a pivotal role in the mission’s work in SI and has
provided assistance in all three components of Ramsi work in SI –
military, police and civilian,” Mr Bata’anisia said.
He also added that for the last 29 years, SI students had attended
various tertiary institutions in PNG and currently there were over 130
SI students under SI government scholarship with assistance grants by
PNG Government studying in various universities in the country.
PNG University of Technology Vice-Chancellor Misty Baloiloi, who
attended the celebrations, said PNG and Solomon Islands were not failed
states.
He said there was no basis for the two countries to be described as
such.
 
|
