MARKING a double celebration, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape addressed the United Nations General Assembly on his country’s 50th year of independence and UN membership.
Marape wove a compelling story of national unity, hard-won peace, and an urgent call for global environmental responsibility.
A core theme of his address was harmony amidst diversity. PNG comprises over 1000 tribes, 850 languages, and 600 islands and is bound by a constitution.
Marape offered this as proof that unity can be forged from plurality, sending a message that while the country affirms its Christian heritage, “religion must never divide humanity — coexistence is a must.”
The journey to unity has not been without its difficulties.
Reflecting on the decade of violence in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea’s leader highlighted engaging in dialogue has helped drive national transformation, which led to the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement.
“Not a bullet has been fired since,” he stated, offering the nation as a testament that “peace, when built on genuine will, can endure.”
Looking forward, the Marape issued a clarion call for the well-being of the planet. As a custodian of vast tropical forests and its own share of the Blue Pacific, Papua New Guinea is on the frontline of the climate crisis.
“There is no other planet like Earth,” he said, emphasizing the intergenerational duty to protect it.
However, he stressed that this could not be a solitary effort, calling on major economies to “align responsibility with carbon footprint” and recognize that “our forests and oceans are not just Papua New Guinea’s — they are global goods.”
After 50 years on the world stage, Papua New Guinea stands as a mature nation with a simple yet profound message for the international community: unity is possible, peace is sustainable through dialogue, and the preservation of our shared planet is a non-negotiable duty for everyone.