SECRETARY-GENERAL NAMES FRANCESC VENDRELL ENVOY TO ALL-BOUGAINVILLEAN TALKS TO BE HELD IN CAIRNS, 15-19 DECEMBER

Press Release
SG/SM/5849

SECRETARY-GENERAL NAMES FRANCESC VENDRELL ENVOY TO ALL-BOUGAINVILLEAN TALKS TO BE HELD IN CAIRNS, 15-19 DECEMBER

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General:

The second round of all-Bougainvillean talks involving the Bougainville Transitional Government (BTG), the Bougainville Interim Government (BIG), and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) will be held in Cairns, Australia, from 15 to 19 December.

As requested by the parties to the conflict, the Secretary-General has designated Francesc Vendrell, Director of the East Asia and the Pacific Division in the Department of Political Affairs, as his Envoy to participate in the talks.

Before proceeding to Cairns, Mr. Vendrell met, in Port Moresby, with Sir Julius Chan, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, as well as other high-level Government officials.

These talks will hopefully represent the first step leading towards a political solution to the Bougainville question.

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