*EPF109 10/23/00
Text: Boucher Statement on Solomon Islands October 14 Peace Agreement
(U.S. supports peace effort) (170)

Following is the text:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

October 20, 2000

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

SOLOMON ISLANDS - RESOLUTION OF ETHNIC CONFLICT

The United States applauds the signing on October 14 of a peace agreement in Townsville, Australia between warring ethnic militias of the Solomon Islands. We note that the agreement provides an amnesty for all militants who relinquish their arms and calls for the presence of an unarmed international peace monitoring team. We greatly appreciate the critical role the Governments of Australia and New Zealand have played in achieving this historic agreement. We urge all parties in this ethnic conflict to honor the peace agreement, lay down their arms and resolutely engage in restoring civil order.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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