PRESS STATEMENT ON BOUGAINVILLE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

PRESS STATEMENT ON BOUGAINVILLE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

This is the text of a statement to the press today by the President of the Security Council, Moctar Ouane (Mali):

Members of the Security Council heard a briefing from the Head of the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville, Ambassador Noel Sinclair.

Members of the Security Council welcomed the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement in Arawa on 30 August 2001, which put an end to 12 years of fighting.  This Agreement has three pillars:  autonomy, a referendum, and a weapons disposal plan.  Members of the Security Council encouraged the parties to implement these provisions as soon as possible in order to achieve a definitive settlement of the conflict.

Members of the Security Council value the efforts made by the Government of Papua New Guinea to integrate into its Constitution the amendments resulting from the Peace Agreement and they encouraged the Government of Papua New Guinea to pursue this endeavour.

Members of the Security Council recalled the important role played by the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville and underlined the need for continuation of its activities.  They also recalled that its mandate now includes the area of weapons collection and disposal, as elaborated in a 22 November note from the Secretary-General.

Members of the Council welcomed the work of the Peace Monitoring Group in support of the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville and the establishment of the United Nations Trust Fund to support the weapon disposal process.

In this regard, the members of the Security Council encouraged the parties to implement, as soon as possible, the provisions of the Peace Agreement relating to the weapons collection and disposal plan, as a vital step to implementing the Bougainville Agreement and achieving lasting peace.

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