The President of Bougainville, Ishmael Toroama, says the current political instability in Papua New Guinea mustn't stop the post referendum consultations.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape and Bougainville's President Ishmael Toroama meet for talks in Port Moresby, 9 November 2020. Photo: PNG PM Media
Bougainville and the PNG Government are due to go into Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) talks late next week in Kokopo in East New Britain.
President Toroama said the JSB must proceed to strengthen the rapport his government and Prime Minister James Marape have developed in the last two months.
The President also praised South Bougainville MP and cabinet minister, Tim Masiu, for staying with the prime minister's faction.
He said this showed his commitment to the Bougainville process.
President Toroama said he's confident the prime minister will be steadfast in his commitment to start developing a framework for negotiations on the referendum result.