Foreign policy needs review, says MP

By YVONNE KAMBIBEL
PAPUA New Guinea (PNG)’s Foreign Policy needs to be updated because it has not been reviewed for about 15 years, Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko says.
Referring to the department’s White Paper, Tkatchenko said the paper was an important guide to all the functions of the Foreign Affairs Department and its operations, both overseas and in the country.
“During times when international and regional securities are concerned, like the war between Russia and Ukraine and the recent issue between China and the Solomon Islands, can affect PNG with the price of goods and services. So we need to know where we stand in our foreign policy.
“We need to know who to trust, who to trade with, who our traditional partners are and who we need to partner with now and into the future,” he added.
He said the policy was reviewed in 2017-2019 but more needed to be done to polish up the paper.
Tkatchenko said he had engaged a team of very senior public servants to help the department review the policy.
“Eight senior public servants and leaders who have retired, with much knowledge and experience, would be beneficial for the review.
“We have very senior retired ambassadors and leaders with a wealth of knowledge, like Sir Charles Lepani, Gabriel Dusava, Jean Kekedo and others alike in the team for the next six months,” he added.