Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, PBC Ambassadorial-level meeting on Papua New Guinea

Regarding COVID-19, unlike other parts of the world where the pandemic is going to jeopardize human security, the strict measures taken by the Government of PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) have so far limited the infection to only sporadic cases in the country.
 
But we should continue to pay close attention to the situation since the health system is not resilient enough. PNG, like many other countries in the region including LDCs, is not part of the UN’s Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) launched in March and updated last week. However, we should support the efforts by both governments, since whether they will succeed in containing the virus or not could be a test for gaining people’s trust, which is key to peace and stability.
 
Japan made a contribution of over 1 million USD to UNICEF and IFRC in March to provide medical equipment and to support capacity building of health workers and awareness-raising activities in PNG including in Bougainville. We also provided recently a bilateral grant for the improvement of healthcare center in Bougainville.
 
Japan welcomes that the referendum in Bougainville took place peacefully last November. We are very much glad to hear from the Deputy Prime Minister on his firm commitment to the peace process.  Japan supported the process through UNDP by providing necessary equipment and technical support.
 
We also welcome the PNG Government’s initiative to promote reconciliation. Japan hopes that the presidential and general elections in Bougainville will take place according to the timeline announced two weeks ago. We should not let COVID-19 or other natural disasters disrupt the consultations between the governments of Port Moresby and Buka, which should start soon after the elections.
 
We will continue to support where we can, the peace process side by side, with the people of PNG and of Bougainville through collaboration with the UN system. This is peacebuilding in action as we said earlier, where the humanitarian-development-peace nexus is a test. We cannot and should not let it fail.
 
Thank you very much.