Bilateral talks at Burnham this week are making headway

The bilateral talks kicked off at the camp just south of Christchurch on Monday.

Consultations are closed to the media.

The Bougainville Government says the talks have led to significant developments since they began. Saying both parties have started talking openly on key issues relating to the independence of the region.

It comes after a referendum was held in the autonomous region in 2019, 97.7% of the population voted for independence.

Delegations from Papua New Guinea said they have agreed to table discussions around the results of the referendum, meaning talks can move towards the future of the region.

Representatives from both governments were welcomed to Burnham at a pōwhiri on Saturday. Sir Jerry Matapere, the former Governor-General who is moderating the talks, opened the consultations on Monday.

Burnham is a significant place for the talks, having being previously used to negotiate a ceasefire during the civil war fought from 1988 to 1998 in the region that paved the way to the independence referendum.

The President of Bougainville, Ishmael Toroama, said that he wants the talks to be productive. "The people of Bougainville are hoping for finality, they have high expectations that Burnham will finally provide the roadmap to Bougainville’s independence," he said.

An agreed document is anticipated to be made by the end of the week,  indicating possible progress for the region's independence.

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, is not present for the talks. Manasseh Makiba, Minister for Bougainville Affairs, is representing the country in his absence.

The talks are expected to continue until Friday.