The leaders of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea, John Momis and Peter O'Neill, can point to some achievements after a key meeting in Arawa on Friday, but many issues remain unresolved a year out from a planned referendum on possible independence.
The Joint Supervisory Board, or JSB, is charged with overseeing the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, which was signed in 2001 to formally mark the end of a decade-long civil war on the island.
Arawa, Bougainville Photo: RNZI
The vital issue at the meeting was readying Bougainville for the vote on possible independence from PNG.
The JSB noted the appointment of the former Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern, as the chair of the Bougainville Referendum Commmission, which is being set up to lay the groundwork for that vote.
The meeting also accepted the appointment of the two Bougainville delegates, but Port Moresby is still yet to put its two members forward.
Both sides have agreed to hold a special JSB meeting in a month to determine the question or questions that will be put to the people of Bougainville in the referendum.
Once this is done, the commission can undertake testing and outreach work to ensure the question is clearly understood, and that all eligible voters understand what each option means.
John Momis and Peter O'Neill Photo: RNZ / AFP
The commission would also design a ballot with appropriate wording in Tok Pisin.
The meeting also agreed that a post referendum planning taskforce, headed by the National Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Bougainville, and the Autonomous Bougainville Government's Minister for Peace Agreement Implementation, would be established to conduct scenario planning, with a view to reporting to the respective parliaments by the end of this year.
On weapons disposal, the JSB resolved that continued work to remove the scourge of weapons from Bougainville remains a joint national government and ABG responsibility.
It also confirmed that the two chief secretaries have jointly written to the governments of the United States, Japan and Australia to seek funding andsupport to enable disposal of World War II remnants.
Additionally it agreed that further work would be needed to establish some basic data on how to measure the completion of the weapons disposal.
The JSB did approve Port Moresby funding for the commission's operation of US$5.96 million, with that money to be progressively transferred to a trust fund.
In terms of constitutionally guaranteed funding, the Restoration and Development Grants, which Bougainville has maintained for years Port Moresby has failed to pay -- or, at least, pay in full -- the leaders accepted a compromise, with a $US130 million payment to be made to cover the arrears.
The governments also decided to jointly appoint a finance expert to advise on the correct approach to calculating the Restoration and Development Grants, and if both sides fail to agree, then the matter would be referred to the Supreme Court for a binding ruling.
The chief secretaries have also been directed to sort out what is happening with the 17.4 percent of shares in Bougainville that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said last year he would give to the landowners of Bougainville, but which are yet to be transferred.
