Security plan safe: PM

By GYNNIE KERO and REBECCA KUKU
PRIME Minister James Marape has assured the people that the proposed defence cooperation agreement to be signed with the United States on Monday will not “undermine our Constitution.”
“There are some (concerns) on the proposed defence cooperation agreement, and the ship rider agreement. I want to assure our citizens that there is nothing to show concern about,” he said.
“PNG and the US, PNG and Australia, PNG and New Zealand, PNG and the UK, have specific aspects of defence relationships and defence cooperation – all within the ambit of our national constitution.”
Marape said there was nothing to be “sceptical” about on the proposal to be signed with US State Secretary Antony Blinken on Monday.
He was talking to journalists yesterday when US President Joe Biden called him to apologise for cancelling his visit to Port Moresby.
Biden had to cancel his trip to PNG and Australia because of a pressing national issue he had to sort out in Washington.
Monday has been declared a public holiday for Port Moresby residents.
Marape said the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit would go ahead as scheduled.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Peter O’Neill this week urged people to welcome the leaders who will be in Port Moresby for the FIPIC summit.
O’Neill also raised concern over the defence cooperation treaty with the US saying, PNG was a member of the Non- Aligned Movement which had guidelines on agreements with superpowers.
“It is concerning that we should have a choice of how we shape (PNG’s) foreign policy,” he said.
“Having a defence agreement gives access even though they (US) talk about climate change and other issues, much of the arrangement is focused on military arrangements which gives access to our ports, airports by US military forces.
“Particularly naval ships and aircraft, they will have unlimited access to our military facilities like Lombrum, Nadzab and Port Moresby.”
According to sources, the United States is expected to invest billions of dollars in infrastructures in Manus and Lae which will still be owned by the Government.
Marape added: “In fact, the construct of this agreement are within the ambit of the Visiting Force Act 1975 which does allow us to have specific agreements with other forces that we can relate with and have business with.
“The US has been operating with the Status of Force Agreement (SOFA).
“Now we are elevating it to Defence Cooperation Treaty.
“It is up to us to renew (the agreement) or terminate after 15 years,” Marape said.
“Most commentaries are uninformed commentaries.
“These documents will be transparent.
“This agreement does not undermine our Constitution.”
He said the proposal “does not stop us from having other agreements with other nations”.