By Dalcy Lulua
In a small yet significant ceremony held at Government House today, His Excellency Chief Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae, Governor General for Papua New Guinea welcomes Austria’s new Ambassador to PNG Ms Elizabeth Koeglar.
Ms Koeglar is accredited as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea with the Letter of Credence from His Excellency, Dr. Alexander van der Bellen, Federal President of the Republic of Austria.
In a statement released, H.E. Chief Sir Dadae emphasized on the significance of the appointment as it coincides with PNG’s 50th anniversary.
“Your appointment comes at a most significant moment, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s Independence, and mark five decades of diplomatic relations between our two nations,” Sir Bob Dadae.
This milestone not only speaks to the enduring friendship between Papua New Guinea and Austria, but also provides an opportunity to reflect on the many areas of mutual cooperation and shared aspirations,” he said.
“We deeply appreciate Austria’s continued interest in our country and region, and your presence here today, reaffirms Austria’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Papua New Guinea, and the broader Pacific community.”
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to PNG Ms Elizabeth Koeglar expressed gratitude to be appointed during the time PNG is preparing for 50th independence of nationhood.
In a statement released, she describes how her predecessors were treated during their stay in PNG.
“The kindness, consideration and cooperation, which my predecessors have received from your government and the people of Papua New Guinea, have helped greatly to strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two countries,” she said.
Ambassador Koeglar highlights that missionaries, companies and other organisation from Austria prior to independence till now, have long been invested in the prosperity of Papua New Guinea.
“We are proud to see them engage in your country as trusted partners in infrastructure development, especially in hydropower.”
“Austrian companies and NGOs have also been active in the construction and running of vocational schools and hospitals and we currently even have a young Austrian citizen serving out his national service as a volunteer at a local school in Port Moresby.”
“In all these activities the focus was and is directed towards the training and skills development of Papua New Guinean citizens.”
Ambassador Koeglar hints for more discussion on possible topics of cooperation with representatives of the government of Papua New Guinea during her tenure as Ambassador.
H.E Chief Sir Dadae responded, “As you have rightly noted, Austria has long engaged with our nation – through development cooperation, investment, missionary work, and people-to-people exchanges – well before our Independence in 1975.”
“We are especially appreciative of Austria’s emphasis on education, training, and skills development. The contributions of Austrian companies, NGOs, and volunteers – such as the young Austrian citizen currently serving at a local school in Port Moresby – have played a tangible role in building capacity and improving livelihoods in our communities.”
“Papua New Guinea supports the principles of multilateralism, peace, and international cooperation, which are important to ensuring that we build a peaceful and sustainable world for our future generations. In an era of multipolarity, Austria provided us with a template for neutral diplomacy, which forms the bedrock for a peaceful existence within the global order.”
“It is peace that we seek and work for in our vast Blue Pacific, and I am confident that during your tenure, the relations between our two nations will continue to flourish, and that new areas of cooperation will be explored to the benefit of, not just both our peoples, but more pronouncedly, the people of the Pacific,” said the GG.