Diplomacy. People associate the word with foreign policy, international relations, economic ties and men and women in business attire, shaking hands, signing agreements and university degree holders.

Such an elaborate sounding word, when really it’s the simple art of negotiating. “I have something you want and you have something I want so let us sit down, have a chat and impress and try to woo each other!” and at the end of it the better negotiator will have the better end of the bargain.

When you break it down like that it doesn't sound that remarkable does it? In fact if you really think about – in the great times before (when we were still warriors) the renowned, well respected, well liked leaders (aside from being a tad fierce) were excellent diplomats.

In fact, PNG culture requires everyone have some skill in being diplomatic. Marriage these days is most often between two very different cultures and requires a certain amount of diplomacy to have harmonious relations with in-laws, and out-laws alike. Death, the feasts associated with death, bride price exchange ceremonies, reconciliation and land disputes; all these events to this day require diplomacy.

Thus you assume that a prominent Papua New Guinean leader would have a significant amount of diplomatic skills. To have the ability to build a rapport and maneuver people from different walks of life in order to get a favorable response. At present however, one can’t help but be skeptical about the diplomatic skills of a number of our leaders at the paramount Haus Tambaran over at Waigani.

One situation sticks out like two-missing-front-teeth! It is hard to turn a blind eye on the whole Garnaut affair when local, international and social media seem to have daily updates on who’s saying what and the implications for the neighbor nations.

Tedious really when you consider that there are more pressing local matters to be reported on like floods, poor health-care, bad roads, the whole grade 12 cheating saga not to mention the long overdue CoI into the SABL issue and the experimental seabed mining issue.

But the question…the big question is….would Mista Prime Minista being more diplomatic, have made a difference to the below reported circumstances?

©Klaireh

Carr passes on BHP PNG Dispute

Source: Australian Financial Review

By Greg Earl and Joanna Heath

Foreign Minister Bob Carr has refused to publicly support former Ok Tedi mine chairman Ross Garnaut in a dispute between Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, and BHP Billiton. Senator Carr said a travel ban on Professor Garnaut should be dealt with at the consular level.

The federal government is reluctant to be drawn in because it hopes its relationship will improve under the relatively new O’Neill government.

Mr O’Neill has accused BHP of having a colonial mentality towards PNG by not giving up full control over the fund that has majority ownership of the Ok Tedi copper mine and has imposed a travel ban on Professor Garnaut due to his critical comments on the issue.

Australian National University development expert Stephen Howes said it was ironic that the government had washed its hands of the dispute when a new economic co-operation treaty had been settled between the two countries only last December, which should have provided for free business travel.

Observers are surprised Mr O’Neill has attacked BHP so strongly because he is publicly committed to resources development and some speculate about personality tensions between Mr O’Neill and Professor Garnaut. Others say the central government is under pressure from local opponents of the mine to have more control over the fund before it pushes ahead with extending the mine due to its important role in the country’s budget.

BHP has ceded control over appointing directors to the PNG Sustainable Development Program fund, which majority owns the mine, but Mr O’Neill has not explained clearly how he wants the fund to run now it is more independent. Analysts said he might feel that the changes to how directors are appointed might not result in fast enough board change to the institution, which spends 30 per cent of its earnings and places the rest in a long term savings fund.

Lowy Institute for International Policy analyst Jenny Hayward-Jones said the fund had been a good way for BHP to deal with the consequences of mining pollution a decade ago and had contributed to PNG development. But she said there could be localised grievances about how money was spent that was fuelling Mr O’Neill’s criticism. “I don’t think this reflects any change in approach to mining companies and I don’t think the government is seeking a conflict with BHP,” she said.

Professor Howes, who reviewed the fund, said it had helped BHP exit the Ok Tedi mine and had benefited PNG more than expected due to a higher copper price.

Australia’s need for a refugee processing center on PNG’s Manus Island means this is particularly sensitive time for the government to enter a commercial dispute in PNG.

Senator Carr said: “Our high commissioner in Port Moresby has engaged with the government of PNG about this, making representations on Mr Garnaut’s behalf. I think that is best handled at that level.”