PRESS STATEMENT ON BOUGAINVILLE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s press statement on Bougainville by Security Council President John Negroponte (United States):

Members of the Security Council:

Heard a briefing from John Renninger, the Director of the Asia Pacific Division of the Department of Political Affairs on Bougainville, Papua New Guinea;

Welcomed the statement by the new Government of Papua New Guinea that peace-building in Bougainville is a national priority;

Also noted with appreciation the important role played by the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville, as well as the Peace Monitoring Group of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu;

Recalled that the Bougainville Peace Agreement, signed on 30 August, 2001, has three pillars:  autonomy, a referendum and a weapons disposal plan;

Encouraged the parties to work together to implement these provisions as soon as possible in order to achieve a definitive settlement of the conflict.  In particular, they considered critical that the agreed weapons disposal plan be implemented in full and on time and called upon all parties to redouble without interruption efforts to this end;

And took note of the importance of international aid in the support of the peace process on Bougainville and urge the international community to remain mobilized in this respect.

* *** *