Papua New Guinea ‘shocked’ by Australia diplomatic outpost move
Papua New Guinea (PNG)'s prime minister says he is "shocked" by Australia’s announcement that it is to open a diplomatic mission on a territory of his country without consultation with his government.
“We were shocked to learn from the budget documents that Australia is planning on establishing a diplomatic post in Bougainville,” Peter O'Neill said on Thursday at a media event to mark 40 years of Papua New Guinea's independence.
On Tuesday, the Australian government announced a plan to set up a diplomatic mission on the copper-rich island of Bougainville, a territory of Papua New Guinea, as part of its 2015-16 budget.
“There has been no consultation on this proposal and there is no agreement to proceed,” O'Neill said, stressing that “Bougainville is an integral part of Papua New Guinea.”
“As we respect the territorial integrity of others, we expect others to respect ours as well,” he added.
The PNG foreign minister, Rimbink Pato, also described the plan as “outrageous.”
Papua New Guinea attained full independence from Australia in September 1975.
Meanwhile, a representative for Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the proposal had been discussed in December 2014 and that Australia's High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea formally informed the PNG government before Tuesday’s release of the Australian budget.
Australia’s announcement to establish a diplomatic post on Bougainville comes as the autonomous region is scheduled to hold a referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea.
AR/NN/HMV
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