SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES DISPATCH OF REGIONAL TRANSITION TEAM TO BOUGAINVILLE
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General welcomes the decision of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu to dispatch a small civilian transition team to Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, after the Bougainville Peace Monitoring Group leaves the island on 30 June.� He is pleased that the transition team will continue to provide logistical and operational support to the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville.� This decision demonstrates the continuing commitment of the countries in the region to support the desire of the people of Papua New Guinea, including Bougainville, for a peaceful and prosperous future.
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