U.S.-P.N.G. agreement

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 22

U.S.-P.N.G. agreement

PA Wellington The United States Embassy confirmed in Wellington on Tuesday that American troops would train and exercise with Papua New Guinea soldiers. But the Embassy said Australian news reports alleging that the United States had signed a “secret” agreement with Papua New Guinea were distorted. Papua New Guinea and American officials held an open press conference upon the conclusion of bilateral military talks which took place on November 9 and November 10, the Embassy said. The talks covered general guidelines for defence co-operation, joint exercises, maritime surveillance and joint civic action projects. Jin agreement called far the United States to

assign one U.S. Army noncommissioned officer to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force’s Goldie River training depot near Port Moresby for 12 to 18 months, as part of an exchange. A member of the force would be assigned to a training programme in America at a future date. A U.S. Army Special Forces group of 15 to 20 soldiers would visit Papua New Guinea for approximately 20 days in February for a cross-training exercise with two P.N.G.D.F. reconnaissance platoons. The proposed exercise area was near Wewak — not on the Papua New Guinea-Indonesia border as claimed by the Australian newspaper. Contrary to the newspaper’s report, Australia had welcomed the agreemAt. / ■