Reports from Papua New Guinea say the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has apologised to the people of Bougainville on behalf of the PNG government for the horrors of the Bougainville conflict.
The Post Courier reports he has also promised US$640,000 to Bougainville to help with reconciliation ceremonies.
The civil war had its formal conclusion in 2001 with the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
Mr O'Neill was speaking in Buka on the first day of an historic three-day tour of PNG's autonomous region.
The President of Bougainville, John Momis, thanked the prime minister saying the gesture marked a new beginning and was a sign of cooperation and collaboration in Bougainville's development.
