Postcourier 8/9/97- Bougainville News id AAA07876; Fri, 12 Sep 1997 00:59:05 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit sender: "Vikki John" POST COURIER PNG 8/9/97 Solomons PM arrives for talks - wants time-frame on B'ville SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu wants a ``time- frame'' on the Bougainville peace pro cess so he can plan his budget. At the moment, he says, the cost incurred in addressing ``spillover'' ef fects of the Bougainville crisis is inter fering with progress on his country's structural adjustment program. Mr Ulufa'alu arrived to a red-carpet welcome from the PNG Government at Jackson's Airport yesterday. ``It's good to be back,'' said the new prime minister, who studied for a Bach elor of Economics degree at University of PNG from 1970 to 1997. He was met by acting Prime Minister Chris Haiveta, Foreign Affairs Minister Kilroy Genia and Internal Affairs Minis ter Thomas Pelika, and inspected a military guard of honor. He and his delegation will be staying until Wednesday when they return to Honiara. Mr Ulufa'alu has not addressed the media yet. However a spokesman, Mr Johnson Honimae, said the relationship with Papua New Guinea was ``a very special one''. ``It's very crucial that he meets with the (PNG) Government and the Prime Minister (Bill Skate) as early as possible. That's why he has made this trip,'' he said. Mr Honimae's comments were in line with a statement which the Solomons Prime Minister's Office released before his his departure from Honiara. ``The relationship we have with Papua New Guinea is a special one so it is logical that I as a new Prime Minister establish the initial contact at the ear liest possible opportunity,'' Mr Ulufa'ula said in the statement. He hopes to discuss with his PNG counterpart and selected Cabinet Minis ters the Bougainville issue and how trade between the two countries could be increased under the Melanesian Spear head Group Trade Agreement as well as other bilateral issues cooperation with in education sector, air and shipping transport, and sharing of intelligence information as well as exchange of magistrates. He will also be meeting with Governor- General Sir Wiwa Korowi, Opposition Leader Bernard Narokobi and Chief Jus tice Sir Arnold Amet during his four-day visit. ``My government wants to establish with Port Moresby the time-frame for the peace process on Bougainville under the Burnham Declaration,'' he said. ``This is important if my government is going to save the millions of (Solomon Islands) dollars spent on the spillover effects of the crisis. If we can save this money, then it could go towards my government's structural reform pro gram.'' Mr Honimae said yesterday that ``ex penses are all over the place''. Explaining what Mr Ulafa'alu meant when he spoke of a time-frame, Mr Honimae said: ``He is thinking along the same lines as the Matignon Accord for New Caladonia.'' (The Matignon Accord covers the time-frame agreed between the French government and the FLNKS on the lead-up to independence for New Caledonia.) Mr Honimae said the spillover effects of the Bougainville crisis on the border region meant Solomon Islands hospital beds being occupied by Bougainvilleans and and schools filled with Bougainvill ean children. The Solomons Prime Minister will revisit the University of PNG as well as visiting the Pacific Adventist College to meet Solomon Islands students in both institutions. ``It's only a very short visit but as far as the government is concerned it is very important,'' said Mr Honimae. Mr Ulufa'alu was elected Prime Minis ter of Solomon Islands and Leader of the Solomon Islands Alliance for Change on August 27. ================= Envoy sees new hope for future relations ``I think we've finally found the right equation,'' said Joseph Asaigo, PNG's High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, when welcoming the arrival of Prime Minister Bart Ulufa'alu. Mr Asaigo said Mr Ulufa'alu's visit was ``a very positive indication'' as to how future relations would evolve between the two closest Melanesian neighbors. ``We have to look at . . . the misconception and the misunderstandings between us,'' said the high commissioner, who played a key role in organising the visit. ``The leaders (the two prime ministers) . . . want to work as genuine brotherly neighbors. That's the positive aspect of this visit.''Mr Asaigo said the visit opened a new chapter in which the people of PNG and Solomon Islands could dispel any rumors and feel free about each other. He declined to be drawn into any discussion about talks on Bougainville. He said, however, that it was PNG's hope that the discussions this week would lead to a more mature and constructive partnership between the two countries and their people. ``Firstly,'' he said, ``this visit will put into perspective clearly, which way Solomon Islands should be conducting their relationship with the (PNG) Government. Secondly, it will establish a clear and constructive attitude of eliminating the misconceptions, the element of fear and the element of mistrust. If these things are put into perspective our relationship will grow from strength to strength for a prosperous future.'' =================== Govt steps up lobby for the top Forum post THE Government has stepped up its lobbying for the top post in the South Pacific Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji. Outgoing Secretary for the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council, Mr Noel Levi, is the Government's nominee for the post of Secretary-General to succeed Ieremia Tabai, whose term expires at the end of the year. Foreign Affairs Vice-Minister Titus Philemon is leading a delegation of top officials to seven Pacific countries to lobby support for Mr Levi's candidature. The delegation will visit the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji and Tonga. The Republic of Palau is the only country so far to have given written support for PNG's nomination of Mr Levi. Mr Levi is a member of the delegation touring the Pacific. The other officials are Mr Peter Tsiamalili, Secretary of Personnel Management and Mr Max Rai, the Deputy Secretary in charge of operations in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mr Philemon will report to Prime Minister Bill Skate at the South Pacific Forum in the Cook Islands on the result of his talks with the other island leaders ================================================================= 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-09.12.97-00:59:06-6798