Australia-PNG security treaty delayed over ‘wording’

THE delay in Papua New Guinea signing a security treaty with Australia is due to a disagreement on certain words used in the proposed document, says Prime Minister James Marape.
“We did not agree on certain words that were used.
“We felt that they encroached into our sovereign rights,” he said.
He said this was why they had asked Australia to review the treaty.
He added that he had spoken to Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, also Australia’s Defence Minister, who acknowledged that both countries had to agree to what should be signed.
“Those are the matters before our officials. It is still in the technical stage,” he said,
He added that PNG had responded to what it felt was not worded correctly in the document, and Australia was looking into it.
He added that there was no timeframe set on when that can be accomplished.
“PNG has a defence security cooperation with Australia already, and what we are trying to do is elevate that to a treaty level.
“Treaties have stringent requirements and processes to be followed,” Marape said.