British military training for PNG soldiers

National

THE British army will train members of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force to improve security and maintain bilateral relations between the two countries, says Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko.
It follows the signing of the Status Armed Force Agreement yesterday, with foreign, commonwealth and development affairs secretary James Cleverly in Port Moresby.
“The United Kingdom will now play a role in training our defence forces and other activities (we) have with UK for the benefits of security in the region,” he said.
Tkatchenko said it would strengthen bilateral relations to work towards economic prosperity, downstream processing and enabling the country to be economically independent.
Senior British military officers are already training PNG soldiers.
Cleverly said it was about building genuine partnership “that would protect your environment, fisheries, natural wealth and ensuring that you retain your economic benefits from your natural resources, crops and also moving from polluting energy sources to green energy sources is important”.
He also visited the Central public health laboratory to view the equipment bought through the UK Fleming Funds to treat antimicrobial resistance cases at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
“The ability to analyse microorganism effectively and quickly is important,” Cleverly said.
“I am pleased that it has been facilitated with help of the Fleming fund, funded by the British people to support our friends in PNG.”
Hospital medical services director Dr Kone Sobi said this had helped increase capacity of microbiology activity at the hospital.