Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State
I wish to congratulate Papua New Guinea and Bougainville on the peaceful completion of the December 7 referendum on the future political status of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. We applaud your dedication to democracy, and we stand ready to support all our partners with next steps in the process as Papua New Guinea and Bougainville work together to determine their future.
This referendum was a central pillar of the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement, and the United States is pleased to have assisted Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville Referendum Commission and local civil society organizations, including through the efforts of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby.