Minister for Foreign Affairs

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkatchenko, stated that Health Minister, Dr Lino Tom, will be a part of the bilateral discussion when the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in PNG.

Tkatchenko stated that India is one of the biggest producers of medicine and chemicals in the world and PNG need to discuss on working directly with manufacturers for the benefit of supplying good quality medicine for the people.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkatchenko, said this meant that all officials, members and hierarchy of China and Indonesia can come into PNG through Visa on arrival.

He stated that this is what China is doing for PNG and what Indonesia is already doing in Indonesia.

Tkatchenko said three previous reviews of the foreign policy white paper were done but none were ever approved and implemented.

The Minister said, “When I came in as the foreign minister, one of the first things that was on my agenda was to get the foreign policy white paper going immediately.”

“So that we can see where we are, we can review what we need to do. We can look at the current situations we are now facing in the region and around the world and put Papua New Guinea in a position where we can move forward without fear and without favor.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko, in a press conference in Port Moresby, highlighted significant areas of concern to be added into the treaty agreement including cybercrime, climate change, money laundering, biosecurity, internal security and gender-based violence.

“The definition of the security treaty has been expanded which I think is a very good thing, it’s not just about Defence but all the other important areas as well.

These missions will give Papua New Guinea opportunities in business, agriculture, trade and economics including health and education.

Minister Tkatchenko said the four new missions in Jerusalem, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Thailand and Geneva will be set up over the next three years.

“Israel has big significance in religious aspects with the mother land and a lot of people have an understanding in that regard and also in technological developments and the way they do things in Israel with business is very outstanding.”

These missions will give Papua New Guinea opportunities in business, agriculture, trade and economics including health and education.

Minister Tkatchenko said the four new missions in Jerusalem, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Thailand and Geneva will be set up over the next three years.

“Israel has big significance in religious aspects with the mother land and a lot of people have an understanding in that regard and also in technological developments and the way they do things in Israel with business is very outstanding.”

When making the announcement, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Marise Payne, said Philp is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“He has served overseas as Ambassador to Afghanistan and Ambassador to Turkey, as well as Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Myanmar. In the private sector, Mr Philp worked as a senior executive with Woodside Energy,” stated Payne.

“Mr Philp holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the Australian National University.

Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, announced this today in Port Moresby soon after the conclusion of the APEC Leaders’ Summit.

New Zealand will be working in partnership with the National Department of Health and Australia on this program.

“We are going to put $10 million towards PNG’s vaccination campaign from life threating and preventable diseases,” Peters stated.

Around 140,000 people living in the remote areas of the Highlands region were most impacted by the earthquake.

In a joint statement, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, Minister for Defence, Senator Marise Payne and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, said: “Continuing aftershocks have caused further damage in these areas, including a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on 5 March and a 6.7 magnitude earthquake this morning.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato, announced in Parliament last week that the team comprising of Government officials will be visiting Wellington this month to look into the matter and report back.

This follows the announcement by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in January this year of an investigation into the sale of the property during the residence.

Pato confirmed in Parliament last week that the residence was sold on November 13^th 2014 for some NZ$800,300 (K1.5 million) with proceeds deposited into a trust account.