Marape meets ABG president

PRIME Minister James Marape held informal discussions with Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President Ishmael Toroama in Port Moresby yesterday.
According to a media statement, they discussed matters concerning the formal consultations that will take place between the National Government and the ABG, which include the joint technical team and joint supervisory body (JSB) meetings later in the year.
It was to re-engage after the follow-up process as agreed to at the JSB meeting in Arawa in February was delayed following the death of the Papua New Guinea’s founding father and Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and the onset of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
The two leaders’ discussions focused on the consultations, which will form a huge chunk of work as the two sides begin to go through the important part of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) during the post referendum period.
Marape, who is also Bougainville Affairs Minister, said establishing a consultation framework was critical to the success of future consultations between the two governments.
“It must be agreed to before the commencement of the process and it is understood that a post referendum consultation package, comprising resources to facilitate political dialogue, sustain the spirit of the BPA and otherwise, guide consultation teams, which were endorsed by the then ABG minister Sir Puka Temu and ABG’s Albert Punghau,” he said.
“It is also critical that each side understands the composition of the teams that will interphase and the mandates that they bring to the table to guide the two governments on the consultation processes.”
Marape said they also discussed issues on the appointment of a moderator and at this stage, Bertie Ahern remains both governments’ appointee as he was involved in the ABG referendum commission.
Marape said the role of the UN was critical to achieve the post referendum processes and outcomes as desired by both sides and that the UN remained willing to undertake this role and will chair the consultation process. “Toroama and I have firmed up that the joint technical team and the national technical and Bougainville technical team should hold their separate planning consultations before the next JSB meeting this year,” he said.
“It is anticipated that the national technical team and the Bougainville technical team will meet separately on the week beginning May 3, to deal with the outcome of the consultations between the two leaders and also follow up to the JSB and the possible dates for the consultations to begin.”