Bougainville's President Ishmael Toroama says the autonomous Papua New Guinea region should achieve independence by 2025.
Toroama gave the message at talks between his Bougainville and PNG's governments in Kokopo.
The talks are part of consultations over how to proceed with the result of Bougainville's 2019 non-binding independence referendum when 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans voted for independence.
Johnny Blades has been following developments.
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PNG's prime minister James Marape (right) shakes hands with Ishmael Toroama, the president of the autonomous region of Bougainville, 5 February 2021. Photo: PNG PM Media