Bougainville - 22 April 99 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit POSTCOURIER - 22 April 99 Kabui has faith in Bill Skate CO-CHAIRMAN of the Bougainville Constituent Assembly, Joseph Kabui, has praised Prime Minister Bill Skate for his commitment to the Bougainville peace process. Mr Kabui told the Post-Courier Mr Skate's approach to the Bougainville conflict has done much to speed up the peace process. ``The Prime Minister's down to earth approach, his personal touch with us has made a lot of difference to the peace process,'' he said. ``He has not paid lip service to the peace process. He has been genuine and very humane . . . I am proud of Bill Skate. Bougainville needs Bill Skate and Papua New Guinea needs Bill Skate. ``I ask the leaders of Papua New Guinea to put aside petty politics and work with the Prime Minister to enhance the Bougainville peace process.'' Mr Kabui said the way in which Mr Skate had treated Bougainville leaders had made him and many of them proud. ``We see a Prime Minister who is prepared to work and work hard for peace,'' he said. ``He is not just talking. When he talks, we know he is genuine.'' Mr Kabui said many leaders of Bougainville have full confidence in Mr Skate and want to work with him until peace is fully restored on Bougainville. ``Other prime ministers have given us the run around. not showing their full commitment to peace. This is the difference we see with Bill Skate,'' Mr Kabui said. The other co-Chairman of the Bougainville Constituent Assembly, Gerard Sinato, also endorsed Mr Kabui's comments about Mr Skate. ============================= Peace agreement nears conclusion AFTER a week of intense negotiations, Bougainville leaders are close to signing a new agreement paving the way for the peace process to be taken to a new level. This development has forced Prime Minister Bill Skate to delay his departure by 24 hours so that he could see the agreement signed by the leaders. Mr Skate was due to leave late yesterday to return to Port Moresby via Sydney but put off his travel at the last minute. He met with the factions all night on Tuesday, taking a short sleep after 5am only to return to the talks soon after. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Don McKinnon was also with the leaders during that night. Mr Skate told Bougainville leaders they had arrived at the final chapter in their negotiations and it was important to conclude the peace talks and move on. He said the meeting, held at the lakeside resort of Okataina Lodge, 25 kilometres outside Rotorua, had to be the last held outside PNG. Mr Skate thanked the New Zealand government for its commitment to helping to achieve peace on Bougainville. He said all future talks must be held on Bougainville or anywhere in PNG and the PNG Government would meet costs. The Special State Negotiator, Sir John Kaputin, put a new draft agreement to the Bougainville leaders to move the peace process forward towards reality. The draft was studied and discussed all day yesterday. No details have been made public. By later yesterday afternoon, the leaders emerged encouraged that they could move forward with confidence that peace would soon return to the island. Mr Skate said he was encouraged by the way all leaders had approached the talks and gave his commitment to work with them until the final outcome. ``I have to take a stand because I want the peace process to move forward,'' he said. Sir John thanked Mr Skate for showing ``true leadership'' and commitment. He said he was pleased and encouraged by the progress and confident that the peace process would accelerate further. Leaders there represent the Bougainville Constituent Assembly (which includes the former Bougainville Transitional Government, Bougainville Interim Government, Bougainville Revolutionary Army) and the Leitana Council of Elders (including resistance fighters). ================================================================= 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-04.25.99-11:51:32-31229