24 Dec 2004

UN Bougainville Observer Mission head welcomes extension

4:33 pm on 24 December 2004

The head of the United Nations Observer Mission to Bougainville, Tor Stenbock, has welcomed news that the mission was to be extended by another six months.

Mr Stenbock said he had not taken the extension for granted and was pleased at the news.

He said elections should be held for an autonomous Bougainville by June next year, and this was a natural time for the nine person mission to end.

"I think there is a fair, good chance that we will now achieve the goal of implementing the totality of the peace agreement. I do really think so."

Tor Stenbock.