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JOINT SUPERVISORY BODY (JSB) MEETING RESOLUTIONS

APEC HAUS, PORT MORESBY

JULY 31, 2023 

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APPRECIATION

In appreciation of the continued peace between our Governments and our people as enabled by the Bougainville Peace Agreement of 2001, we acknowledge and encourage that in the true spirit of our Melanesian ways on resolving disputes, we the elected leaders in this meeting shall continue to promote a transparent dialogue and consultation as a means to finding a lasting peaceful solution.

We respect that dialogue on the Independence choice of the people of Bougainville voted for in the 2019 referendum for Independence will not be an easy issue to resolve in this JSB, but we are determined to settle our joint issues collectively.

Therefore, having discussed in detail related issues to this meeting’s core and only Agenda of Ratification of the Referendum Results, we endorse the following resolutions:

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

The Joint Supervisory Body notes:

1. The official statements of the Co-Chairs;

2. The background provided by the Co-Chairs to the Joint Technical Team on the context of the issues arising at the level of the technical teams on the process of ratification of the referendum results;

3. The records of the joint leader’s open dialogue on the agenda;

 

The Joint Supervisory Body resolves and endorses that:

a. The pathway to parliament is by way of Sessional Order.

b. The Sessional Order will only be moved when the content of the motion is agreed to by the National Minister for Bougainville Affairs and ABG Minister for Bougainville Independence Mission Implementation.

c. The motion will be adopted by a simple majority.

d. The proposal by the GoPNG Prime Minister to invite the ABG President and his leaders to provide awareness to Members of the National Parliament.

e. That the Constitutional Regulation will deal with other aspects of the Post Referendum matters;

 

That this JSB directs:

The National Minister for Bougainville Affairs and ABG Minister for Bougainville Independence Mission Implementation to consult and agree on the content of the Sessional Order relating to;

(i) The question to be put before Parliament;

(ii) The number of sessions required to deliberate on those matters;

(iii) The voting majority required to endorse the referendum results;

(iv) The manner in which the referendum results to be brought into Parliament;

 

The JSB further directs that;

The National Minister for Bougainville Affairs and ABG Minister for Bougainville Independence Mission Implementation explore the possibility of seeking support from Moderators to mediate any impasses that the two Minister’s encounter in the course of their consultation.

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