Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko, in an official address to the media on Friday (25/11/220, said the Department had already initiated preliminary arrangements to update Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Policy White Paper since its creation 41 years ago.
Minister Tkatchenko revealed seven career diplomats, who previously served Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Service, would become the core team of experts to primarily undertake a Foreign Policy Review then subsequently establish the country’s new Foreign Policy White Paper.
The team of experts will be led by Sir Charles Lepani and include Dame Jean Kekedo, Dame Meg Taylor, Gabriel Dusava, Winnie Kiap, Gabriel Pepson and Ambassador Max Rai. “This announcement is long overdue and I have given the deadline for the completion of this critical document by June 1st 2023.”
“It is a document that guides our foreign service and also our foreign missions overseas in our policies and direction for the country.” “It allows us to be on the same page where PNG stands with diplomacy and foreign policy going forward.”
“This is the cream of the crop when it comes to recruiting distinguished Papua New Guineans with huge amounts of knowledge and wisdom to revise and completely redo our Foreign Policy White Paper,” Minister Tkatchenko said. Additional to the esteemed team of diplomats is veteran Professor Mr. Ted Wolfers who worked as a permanent consultant to the committee responsible for developing Papua New Guinea’s Constitution.
Minister Tkatchenko pointed out that Papua New Guinea’s only Foreign Policy White Paper was developed in 1981 with the title “Active and Selective Engagement.”
“Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Policy since independence had been universalism-based and under this broad policy, successive governments have conducted international relations under the statements of “Friends to all, enemies to none” and “Look North” including “Look North and Work the Pacific.”
“There was a review endeavoured by the Department in 2017 to re-assess Papua New Guinea’s conduct of international relations, but funding restrictions hindered this review, however since taking office in August this year as the minister responsible with our new Secretary Mr. Elias Wohengu, we put it as ur number one priority to get it fixed and completed,” Minister Tkatchenko said.
Minister Tkatchenko also thanked the Australian Government for supporting this very important exercise by providing funding and technical assistance which was announced this week during an Australia-PNG Senior Officials Meeting in Canberra.
Minister Tkatchenko said the official work on the White Paper would commence as soon as funding was received.
“This is a very important exercise given the changing global dynamics, such as regional security, Papua New Guinea’s trade and investment interests, global conflict, climate change including all matters pertaining to our foreign relations,” Minister Tkatchenko concluded.