AFTER a decade of no progress since its signing in 2013, the Basic Border Agreement between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia has finally been approved by the parliament last Wednesday.
The approval was given when Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Justin Tkatchenko presented the submission in Parliament.
Members from the both side of the house voted unanimously with an absolute majority of 81 votes to zero to approve the agreement.
“This is significant after a decade; we have finally got this basic border agreement approved by the overwhelming majority in Parliament,” Minister Tkatchenko said.
Last December, Minister Tkatchenko met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hon Retno Marsudi at the Forum for Development in Indonesia to discuss and assure the ratification of the border agreement.
This approval allows for a review of border arrangements, a closer look at the actual areas of the border, improvement in immigration and customs, and economic benefits and trade arrangements between the two countries.
“It allows us to review the process of border arrangements and to look at the actual areas of the border between PNG and Indonesia, customary and traditional land of PNG and its people, work on improving immigration and customs, and economic benefits and trade arrangements between both our countries.
Now that this has been approved, we are going to work with our Indonesian counterparts to review what needs to be updated, consulted and worked on, in order to see how we can improve the border issues for the benefit of both our countries,” the Minister said.
Minister Tkatchenko emphasized the importance of the security of borders, with the defense forces of both countries working together side by side in joint border patrols to protect their sovereignties.
The Minister is also determined to lead the ratification of the Defense Cooperation Agreement between the two countries, which has been sitting idle for the past 13 years.
The National Executive Council has received legal clearance from the State Solicitor, and the Minister plans to present the NEC submission for approval.
The ratification of the Basic Border Agreement will pave the way for both governments to constructively address outstanding issues and review the current status of the border between Indonesia and PNG.
Minister Tkatchenko expressed his gratitude to fellow members of Parliament who supported the submission with an absolute majority of 81 votes to zero, and he looks forward to signing a new agreement that captures shared border and sovereignty interests.
