AIDE MEMOIRE Aide Memoire, Presentation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, and Formal Request for Assistance in Implementation by the United Nations Political Office, Observer Mission in Bougainville. Papua New Guinea (UNPOB/UNOMB)

• Country/entity

  Papua New Guinea
  Bougainville
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Asia and Pacific
  
• Agreement name

  AIDE MEMOIRE Aide Memoire, Presentation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, and Formal Request for Assistance in Implementation by the United Nations Political Office, Observer Mission in Bougainville. Papua New Guinea (UNPOB/UNOMB)
• Date

  14 Sep 2001
• Agreement status

  Unilateral document
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Interstate/intrastate conflict(s) ( Bougainville Conflict (1987 - 1998) )
• Stage

  Implementation/renegotiation
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Bougainville: peace process
• Parties

  Government of Papua New Guinea
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  Short document setting out a brief summary of what the Government of Papua New Guinea seeks from the Security Council in implementing parts of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.The document requests that the UN Security Council continue monitoring and reporting on implementation of agreed arrangements as provided in the Ceasefire Agreement,and assist in implementing the Resolution on Weapons Disposal adopted by the Peace Process Consultative Committee (PPCC) on 9 May and included in Part E of the Bougainville Peace Agreement

• Agreement document

  PG_14092001_Aide Memoire.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Presentation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, and Formal Request for Assistance in Implementation by the United Nations Political Office/ Observer Mission in Bougainville.

Papua New Guinea (UNPOB / UNOMB)

1. Papua New Guinea is pleased to present the United Nations Security Council with a copy of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, which was signed in Arawa on 30 August 2001.

2. This Agreement is the culmination of more than two years of discussion between the Government of Papua New Government and the other parties involved in the peace process in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.

3. The Agreement is in three main parts:

(1) Autonomy;

(2) Referendum;

and

(3) Weapons Disposal Plan.

The signatures made on behalf of the parties appear at the end of the Agreement.

4. An outline of the Agreement, jointly prepared as an agreed summary by all of the parties, is appended for information.

5. The Agreement itself contains a number of commitments made by the Government of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea in respect of the United Nations Security Council:

(1) to table the Bougainville Peace Agreement in the United Nations Security Council (Paragraph 334);

(2) to request the United Nations Security Council to agree that UNPOB / UNOMB -

i. continue monitoring and reporting on implementation of agreed arrangements as provided in the Ceasefire Agreement, (Paragraph 334);

and

ii. assist in implementing the Resolution on Weapons Disposal adopted by the Peace Process Consultative Committee (PPCC) on 9 May and included in Part E of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (Paragraph 330 (a)).

- In relation to (2).i, the Agreement envisages that UNPOB / UNOMB will continue to chair the PPCC (Paragraph 335), as provided in the Ceasefire Agreement (which was signed on 30 April 1998).

- In relation to (2).ii , the Agreement notes that the decision on the final fate of the weapons at Stage 3 of the agreed weapons disposal plan means that there may be a requirement for 'a continuing presence' by UNPOB / UNOMB 'for a short period to conclude their assignment... during implementation', and that the likely exit-date is 'around the middle and not later than the end of 2002' (Paragraph 330 (b) and (c)).

6. The details of the role that the Agreement foresees for UNPOB / UNOMB in relation to implementation of the agreed weapons disposal is for UNPOB / UNOMB to –

(1) chair the sub-committee to be established to develop, manage and implement weapons disposal on behalf of the Peace Process Consultative Committee (PPCC);

and

(2) participate in implementation as follows:

Stage 1 - receive and transmit information when particular areas arc ready for ex-combatants to disarm and re-integrate into the community .... and verify the safe storage of weapons after they have been handed in and placed in sealed containers by unit commanders;

Stage 2 - supervise storage, and hold one of the two keys necessary to open the containers which will be provided at a small number of central locations;

the Constitutional amendments required to implement the Agreement will take legal effect on verification by UNPOB / UNOMB that 'the weapons are in secure, double-locked containers under its supervision' — pending a final decision on the fate of the weapons, which should bemadewithinthefollowing4V%months;

and

Stage 3 - when the decision on the final fate of the weapons is made, be available to verify and certify, with the assistance of the neutral, regional Peace Monitoring Group, whether there has been substantial compliance in the handing in of weapons and whether the level of security makes it conducive to hold the first elections for the autonomous Bougainville Government, and to report to the PPCC on whether the elections should be deferred, and the length of any deferral.

• In order to be effective in the role envisaged in the Agreement, UNOMB 'will carry out such inspections and enquiries as its representative considers necessary at each stage, verify the collection and storage of weapons, and report its findings regularly, frequently and fully to the PPCC, with respect for such confidentiality as may be required.'

• The agreed weapons disposal plan contains an assurance that the parties will co-operate with UNOMB, and ensure it can carry out its responsibilities efficiently and effectively.

7. Papua New Guinea, therefore -

(1) presents the Bougainville Peace Agreement;

and

(2) respectfully requests that UNPOB / UNOMB:

i. continue monitoring and reporting on implementation of agreed arrangements as provided in the Ceasefire Agreement, and

ii. assist in implementing the Resolution on Weapons Disposal adopted by the Peace Process Consultative Committee (PPCC) on 9 May and included in Part E of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (Paragraph 329).

8. The request is made with sincere appreciation for the Statement to the Press of 14 August 2001, in which the President of the United Nations Security Council -

noted that the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville has consistently played an important "good offices" role.

UNPOB should continue this role, including with regard to weapons collection and disposal.