Senior Officials from the Governments of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea have successfully ended the "4th Joint Border Meeting" in Gizo, Western Province yesterday.
During the meeting, top officials discussed a number of bilateral and common border issues between the two countries.They also reviewed a treaty and issues of concern but not signed previously. This includes the Basic Border Arrangement, Treaties on Sovereignty, Maritime Boundary Arrangement as well as an MOU of Joint Border Meetings.
It was resolved that officials are to recommend to their Governments to ratify the Agreements and Treaties for the advancement of the treaties and also management of the SI-PNG Border.
The meeting also discussed developments along the common border and noted with great concern growing illegal activities along the border such as illegal movement of people, boats, drugs and other related issues.
Officials called on Law Enforcement Agencies from the two countries to step up their operations to manage and control illegal activities along the border.
Also highlighted during the meeting is the establishment of border control bases on both sides of the border.
It is acknowledged that Solomon Islands have already allocated its boundary base at Kulity Bay in Shortlands Islands, Western Province, while PNG is still to allocate land for their boundary base.
The meeting also discussed a draft MOU on the establishment PNG/SL Joint Border structure that will focus on border related issues arising between the two countries.