Bougainville Headlines, Radio Oz 10 Jun 99


Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit

source - VIKKI@law.uts.edu.au  Wed Jun  9 21:42:46 1999

Radio Australia - 10 June 99 (6.05am)


Australia to seek gradual pullout of Bougainville peace monitors 

Australia is to start talks on the gradual withdrawal of its peace monitors
on Bougainville.

The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, says unarmed monitors have been on
the island since November, 1997, and should not become a permanent fixture.

Australia contributes 245 of the 300 monitors in the Peace Monitoring Group
-- the PMG -- and says the slow withdrawal may take another 12 to 18 months.

In a statement to Parliament, Mr Downer, said the monitors -- from
Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu -- have been vital to the peace
process.

Given positive developments in the peace process, the Government plans to
discuss shortly with its PMG partners a strategy for the phased reduction in
the PMG and its eventual withdrawal. In making any reductions we will be
careful not to jeopardise the considerable gains already made. Numbers will
not be reduced too quickly and changes will only be undertaken following
close consultation between all the relevant players.

(c) AFP, Reuters, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
 
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