PAPUA NEW GUINEA HAS REJOINED crucial talks with the United States over the South Pacific Tuna Treaty after initially rejecting the US approach.
In talks in Nadi, the PNG delegation set out the conditions for its return to the negotiating table.
Presenter Jemima Garrett spoke with Sylvester Pokajam, Managing Director of PNG's National Fisheries Authority
GARRETT: The Papua New Guinea minister leading the delegation, Charles Abel, has brought a letter from prime minister Peter O'Neill to the US. What did that have to say?
POKAJAM: Our prime minister has been getting a lot of feedback from his Pacific neighbours. They have requested him to consider the withdrawal of the withdrawal. Prime Minister has taken that into account, and also of the very key interests we have in the Pacific and also with the United States. So it was a wide range of issues that the prime minister took into account….
GARRETT: When PNG says it wants the US to pay $35 million, who does that 35 million go to? Is it all the Pacific countries or just Papua New Guinea?
POKAJAM: It is not $35 million it is $45million. And the US is offering $35 million, but that $35 million is for the parties. It is for everyone to be shared equally.
GARRETT: You also mentioned there has been some movement by the US. In the past, they have been driving a pretty hard bargain. What sort of positive steps are you seeing?
POKAJAM: They've come very good now [on the] application of national laws to the US vessels. In the past, it is the Treaty that drives the management of the vessels fishing in our exclusive economic zones of the coastal states. But that has changed now.
The US vessels fishing in the EEZs of the Pacific Island parties are subject to our domestic law, in terms of conservation and management measures, enforcement and things like that. So that is a big, big plus for us.
GARRETT: The current treaty expires in May. How real is the risk that it will expire before a new deal is reached?
POKAJAM: There is a real risk in here
Source: Radio Australia
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