ABG must carry out authority

 THE Autonomous Bougainville Government must use its powers under the peace agreement for the benefit of its people, President Dr John Momis says.

Momis was responding to questions on whether the ABG had the mandate to hold a forum with its development partners in Port Moresby yesterday.

Momis said the ABG had authority to call such forums because:

• It needed to constructively engage with its partners to ensure that the aspirations of the Bougainville people for a highly regionalised form of autonomy is achieved;
• Development partners need to be made aware of the history of the region and the circumstances that had brought it to its current situation; and
• It needed to seek support and aid from its partners.

Momis said the ABG had always strived to maintain and improve its relationship with its partners.

He said to achieve a prosperous partnership which would bring about tangible development for the region, the ABG had to acquaint itself with its partners through regular dialogue.

“We can no longer assume that our partners and those seeking to engage with us fully understand our situation and history,” he said.

“Time moves on. We need to proactively tell our story. We need to convey our aspiration and priorities.”

Attending the forum were US Ambassador Walter North, representative from AusAID, New Zealand High Commission, United Nations, World Bank and officials of the region’s administration.