Bougainville Press Roundup 10/10/97 id CAA05567; Fri, 10 Oct 1997 02:16:53 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source:VIKKI@lexsun.law.uts.edu.au Thu Oct 9 21:14:49 1997 The National (PNG) Newspaper - 10/10/97 Progress reported as NZ talks end today CHRISTCHURCH: Progress has reportedly been made in the second round of Bougainville peace talks at the Burnham army camp near here, a report said yesterday. A ceremony and speeches at the camp today will wrap up a week of talks between officials from Bougainville groups and the Papua New Guinea government, the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) said. A spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon said late yesterday that the closed-door talks had apparently gone very well. "We are getting very positive vibes. I think they have made quite good progress," she was quoted by NZPA as saying. She could give no more details of the talks, which followed a previous round in July at Burnham camp, brokered and funded by the New Zealand government. Those talks ended in the Burnham Declaration, which contained a commitment to ending the island's civil war. About 75 representatives of the Bougainville Transitional Government and the rebels arrived in New Zealand on Monday last week. They were followed by 17 PNG government officials. Mr McKinnon and senior delegates from the groups involved in the talks are to speak at the closing ceremony. - AFP ====================== Genia lauds role of UN in PNG By EMMA BODEN PORT MORESBY: Foreign Affairs Minister Kilroy Genia has applauded the bold administrative and managerial initiatives by the Secretary-General of United Nations H E Kofi Annan when the organisation was in dire financial need. Speaking during a brief meeting with the Secretary-General following his statement to the UN General Assembly in New York this week, Mr Genia welcomed the role of the UN in the development of Papua New Guinea, reafirming his Government's cooperation and continued political support. Responding to positive remarks by the Secretary-General on the peace process in Bougainville, Mr Genia thanked the New Zealand Government for the role they played in the lead up to theBurnham Declaration and the on-going discussions within that framework. He said the Solomon Islands has inspired confidence and hope, now that everyone has come to the table to talk peace, and to reconcile about developments resulting from the spill-over effects. ''We see light at the end of the tunnel and are optimistic for a peaceful resolution now that we have forged greater cooperation between the Solomon Islands, PNG and the Forum countries," he said. On the question of the UN role in decolonisation and respect for human right, the minister was grateful for the firm reassurances made by the Secretary-General that the work of the special committee, chaired by PNG's Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr Utula Samana, will not be undermined in both substance and technical service from the UN secretariat. Mr Genia said the Secretary-General's re-assurances were very important for PNG's foreign policy objectives on New Caledonia and other non-self governing territories on the UN list. "I am pleased with his statements and welcome his executive support to strengthen the work of the committee," Mr Genia said. ====================== For further information, please contact: Bougainville Freedom Movement PO Box 134, Erskineville. NSW 2043 Australia Phone: (+61-2) 9558.2730 ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytpac-10.10.97-02:16:55-6809