Rimbink Pato

The test had strained the nerves of neighboring countries and caused a 5.0-magnitude quake, with an epicenter at zero kilometer depth, in Punggye-ri, northeastern Korean Peninsula, a place believed to be Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK’s) nuclear test site.

Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Government of Papua New Guinea at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Rimbink Pato joins the rest of the international community and condemned the action by DPRK.

The people of Papua New Guinea stand to benefit from the new agreement between their government and the Pacific region’s principal scientific and technical organisation which will strengthen ties to address the country’s complex development challenges in a more holistic way.

“This agreement is based on a genuine spirit of collaboration in which our government and the Pacific Community will seek to complement one another’s efforts more and embrace the contributions of other partners to achieve development outcomes that will assist the people who need it most,” Minister Pato said.

Port Moresby is hosting the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit from Monday and Rimbink Pato says PNG is ready to take on a strong leadership role on shared development, social, economic and environmental challenges.

“In order for regionalism to work properly the leaders will hold frank discussions about pooling sovereignty, sharing resources and agreeing upon regional practices,” Pato told reporters in Port Moresby on Friday.

Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato told PNG Loop that a resolution has been made on the application by the pro-independence group, The United Liberation Movement, for West Papua to have membership at the MSG.

He also says the ministers will be discussing Indonesia’s interest to be an associate member of this Melanesian group.

“So we will make recommendations to the leaders who will then discuss among themselves and announce outcomes to everyone,” Pato says.