By SEPKOLIN WALNE
Prime Minister James Marape says United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres supports Papua New Guinea’s efforts to fight global warming.
“I did have a one-on-one meeting with the Secretary General Guterres and he conveyed his greetings to all of us and said he had his best trip in our country,” Mr Marape said on his return from New York yesterday.
He said Mr Guterres’ recent during PNG’s Independence Anniversary, had completely changed the way the UN leader viewed the country.
“He addressed the Parliament, and then travelled to Wewak to pay respects to Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. After that, we visited the remote area of Nuku, where he saw forestry and many local people.
“Then we flew into Mount Hagen to overnight up at Rondon Ridge in the midst of clouds and forests, and he left PNG with nothing but total praise and admiration for what we are.
“Mr Guterres thank us for keeping our democracy alive, our union as the most diverse nation on earth, yet we maintain one people, one country, one nation, that slogan he repeated,” Mr Marape said.
The Prime Minister added that Secretary General Guterres also thanked PNG for its forestry, ocean and biodiversity.