The Marape-Rosso Government has devised a timeline with the Indonesian Government in terms of current Bilateral Agreements to and to the review, finalization of details, and eventual Implementation of partnership arrangements pending.
Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko in a meeting with Indonesian Deputy Ambassador Nugraha Purniawan offered the Marape-Rosso Governments commitment to Progress and the Implementation of Papua New Guinea and Republic of Indonesia Partnership Agreements.
Foreign Affairs Secretay Elias Wohengu was also present.
The meeting also confirmed Prime Minister James Marape’s State Visit to Indonesia in June/July.
This has been scheduled around the Senior Official Meeting, and Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting, which will be held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea prior to the State Visit.
Discussions were centred around the establishment of a Joint Border Committee to Review and Update the 2013 Basic Border Agreement on Border Arrangement: a Review of the 2013 Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership between Indonesia and PNG.
Additionally important are details of the ‘Entry into Force and Validity’ of the Defence Cooperation Agreement, which was signed in March 2010, which PNG through Parliament has ratified.
Indonesia has also implemented the Visa on Arrival for regular Papua New Guinea passport holders.
Minister Tkatchenko made very clear in his remarks, that Indonesia-PNG relations are solid, and have been better than other Governments have had, and that the Marape-Rosso Government intends to commit to maintaining relations.
Minister Tkatchenko assured Deputy Ambassador Purniawan in relation to the DCA, that an immediate request would be made to the Clerk of Parliament to Certify Ratification, which will then allow for the next phase – a Review of the DCA.
On the Economic Front, Indonesia’s commitment to partnerships through; an Electricity Deal and Preferential Trade Agreement, are at negotiation stages through the respective Departments, with Foreign Affairs committing to communicate with its partner agencies to encourage discussion, to ensure agreements are finalised for the benefit of both countries.
Indonesia-PNG partnerships also extend to the Wutung Primary School Renovations under the West Sepik Intergrated Phase 1 Grant; the Port Moresby General Hospital Grant; and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Education.