U.S. Embassy

In an interview with Deputy Chief of Mission to Port Moresby, Joe Zadrozny addressed the current situation and encouraged all to stand in solidarity where needed.

He was deeply saddened by the recent reports of election-related violence, stating that this has threatened the democracy, equality and the rule of law in Papua New Guinea.

Mr Zadrozny applauded the swift actions taken to contain the matters at hand by the Police, Correctional Service and the Defence Force by restoring peace and order gradually back into the affected areas.

Chargé d'Affaires Joe Zadrozny met with PNG officials today, voicing concerns by the U.S. embassy regarding alarming articles of SARV in the media in NCD, and issued a statement noting that SARV was not limited to one region of PNG but is an issue that effects all Papua New Guineans.

He stated that SARV and GBV are the greatest barriers to PNG’s stability and progress, in order for PNG to maintain a healthy democracy and for communities to increase their income levels, violence against women must stop.

The U.S and Papua New Guinea officials will meet to discuss a bilateral Ship Rider agreement through which both countries will cooperate to combat illegal maritime activity in PNG waters. 

The bilateral Ship Rider agreement will be a force multiplier for both PNG and the United States because it will allow Papua New Guinean maritime law enforcement personnel to observe, protect, board, and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Papua New Guinean waters with the support of U.S. Coast Guard personnel and vessels.

The U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby announced that Principal Legal Officer, Francis Aigilo, departed Port Moresby yesterday for the United States.

In his current role with the JSTF, he has proven his capabilities to work with all stakeholders, especially during APEC, to forge a stronger private public partnership in the law and justice sector. Given his strong desire to uphold the rule of law and human rights, Aigilo wants to learn the mechanisms of private public partnership, to ensure law and order services reach the people in the rural areas.

Edith Namba, Papua New Guinea, and Florence Joel, Solomon Islands, will take part in the program on U.S. Justice System - Protecting Women and Children, taking place from March 24^th –April 14^th 2018.

Namba, a clinical unit supervisor for extension service in Mount Hagen Provincial Hospital in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, is a gender-based violence (GBV) specialist with a strong network of nongovernmental organisations.

The Women of Courage Award honours women who are making history in their countries and communities through their work to better their societies, to fight discrimination or strife, and to help resolve conflicts.

“Eligible candidates are women working in the political, human rights, economic, social, judicial, health, educational, press/media, peace and national reconciliation, and scientific and technological arenas,” the embassy said in a statement.

Jim Tracy, Mike East and Larry C. Morris received a standing ovation at the seaside diplomatic mission as they handed a folded flag to three active Marines, who raised it to a brass band rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Secretary of State John Kerry lauded the men for their composure during a tense moment, in 1961, when they emerged from the building to find a large crowd between them and the flagpole.

The embassy released a statement Friday night urging Americans to report suspicious activities and stay away from any security incidents.

It also noted that French authorities have increased the terrorism alert level in recent months since attacks in January in Paris left 17 victims and three Islamic attackers dead, so there are more troops and police in the streets than in previous years.

And French prosecutors say the suspect who they believe attacked a U.S. gas plant in France is a local truck driver who was known to workers at the Air Products plant.

Monday's statement on the embassy website says the ships were delivered last week in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, doubling Egypt's current number of such vessels. The two previous vessels were also provided by the United States.

The embassy's senior defense official, Maj. Gen. Charles Hooper, says the delivery is a sign of America's ongoing commitment to Egypt and the two countries' shared security interests in the region.