Radio OZ - Bougainville 4/23 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Radio Australia - World News Bougainville leaders pledge to end political faction fighting. Bougainville leaders have pledged to end political faction fighting and work more closely to determine the island's future. The leaders met in New Zealand this week near Rotorua, with Papau New Guinea Prime Minister Bill Skate. Negotiations on Bougainville's political future have been bogged down for months. Correspondents say the leaders will have been encouraged by significant offers from the Papua New Guinea Government, mainly the possible lifting of the suspension of the Bougainville Provinciial Government. And the parties have agreed that disarmament should begin immediately, with assistance from New Zealand, under United Nations supervision. c 1999 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Fri Apr 23 09:15:01 1999 ( AEST ) ====================== Bougainville leaders pledge to end political faction fighting Bougainville leaders have pledged to end political faction fighting and work more closely to determine the island's future. Richard Dinnen reports, the leaders met in New Zealand this week, and it's hoped their latest agreement will breathe new life into the peace process. Negotiations on Bougainville's political future have been bogged down for months. This week's meeting near Rotorua, attended by leaders and PNG Prime Minister Bill Skate, may have broken the deadlock. The leaders have agreed to work together, despite their political differences, some of which may be eased by a plan for a more consultative approach to creating a new local government structure on the island. The leaders will have been encouraged by significant offers from the Papua New Guinea Government, mainly the possible lifting of the suspension of the Bougainville Provinciial Government. And one key sticking point appears to have been resolved. The parties have agreed that disarmament should begin immediately, with assistance from New Zealand, under United Nations supervision. c 1999 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Fri Apr 23 09:15:01 1999 ( AEST ) ================================ Factions talk of "lasting peace" on Bougainville Leaders of the Papua New Guinean government and various factions on Bougainville, have committed themselves to continuing the ceasefire on the wartorn island, and to securing a lasting peace. Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Bill Skate and Bougainvillean leaders have been meeting in Rotorua, New Zealand, to discuss disarmament and the future governance of Bougainville. The leaders have released a communique referred to as the Matakana and Okataina Understanding. In the communique, they pledge to maintain the ceasefire, and work towards a negotiated political settlement of Bougainville's long-term political future. The leaders said a special state negotiator would prepare a package on the powers, functions, structure and status of Bougainville's future government, which would be geared to Bougainville's needs. It was agreed that political leaders would meet to discuss the package no later than June the 30th. c 1999 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Fri Apr 23 09:15:01 1999 ( AEST ) AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time ================================================================= 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-04.25.99-12:24:40-7994