Momis to Aust: clarify mission mix-up.
Bougainville's president is calling for an end to the stoush over a planned Australian diplomatic mission to the autonomous region, and wants public clarification over the "misunderstanding".
Papua New Guinea's foreign minister, Rimbink Pato, initiated a ban on Australians travelling to the area on Monday after Canberra announced the new mission as part of its 2015 budget.
Mr Pato also said the first formal discussion of the mission happened after the details were released to journalists.
Bougainville president John Momis on Wednesday called for an end to the row.
"There is no basis for the PNG government to be harming Bougainville as a way of dealing with its misunderstanding with Australia," Mr Momis said in a statement.
"A ban on Australians travelling to Bougainville will severely slow delivery of important assistance that is helping Bougainville in many ways."
Mr Momis said Australia had discussed with PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) a limited increase in the full-time office it has in Buka, Bougainville's capital.
"But the announcement in the Australian treasurer's budget speech last week made it sound as if a major diplomatic office is to be established," Mr Momis said.
"That is not the case. Australia should publicly clarify what is little more than a misunderstanding."
The president also criticised PNG's role, saying the travel ban breached the spirit of the Bougainville peace deal.
He is seeking assurances from Mr Pato that there will be no future unilateral action in relation to foreign citizens travelling to Bougainville.
"He must recognise Bougainville's autonomy, and only take any such action at the request, or with the agreement, of the Autonomous Bougainville Government," he said.
"I also call on the Foreign Minister to work with the ABG to ensure that we can use our foreign affairs powers under the Peace Agreement."
