Prime Minister Peter O’Neill addresses ANZAC Day Service

His Excellency, Sir Michael Ogio, Governor General of Papua New Guinea;

Ministers of State;

Honourable Christian Porter, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of Australia;

Her Excellency, Deborah Stokes, Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea;

His Excellency, Tony Fautua, New Zealand High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea;

And all representatives of the diplomatic corps;

Veterans, Servicemen and women;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am deeply honoured to be here today with you.

At dawn services around the world, in nations where Australian and New Zealand military personnel have served, thousands of people will stand in silence and pay their respects for the fallen.

Around Papua New Guinea, right now, there are many services taking place to commemorate ANZAC Day.

While it is not our official national day of remembrance – we come together to honour the men and women who lost their lives in our country.

On this day we also honour the very special contribution of our own servicemen who worked with allied forces seventy years ago.

The bravery of Papuans and New Guineans who served in the Australian Army during World War Two is remembered – as is the extraordinary commitment by carriers and by our villagers.

The bravery of the Papuans along the Kokoda track remains one of the most honoured parts in the history of the war in the Pacific.

We pay special tribute to those brave men and women, who wrote their names into history with distinction and courage.

Right now we stand on sacred ground – where so many fallen warriors are buried.

Here at Bomana – 3,824 service personnel, from Australia, New Zealand, the United States and other allied partners, have their final resting place.

Sadly, 699 of these graves are, as their headstones state – “Known unto God.”

These unknown soldiers were not able to be identified by name – but they will forever rest in our soil with due care and respect.

Our country takes very seriously our responsibility to protect and honour those who are buried here.

We also thank the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for their tireless effort in preserving cemeteries and monuments with dignity.

The number of visitors to Kokoka, and other places where fighting took place has increased over recent years.

Papua New Guinea welcomes you with open arms.

We encourage more young men and women from all nations that served here, to come and learn more about our shared history – Regardless of whether we were friend or foe during the war.

It is so important that we learn from the tragedy of war – and after the shooing has stopped that we strive to live in peace.

In just a few hours, the leaders of Australia, New Zealand and Turkey, will stand side-by-side at Gallipoli.

These nations, who were once enemies, are now friends.

The same is true of the relationship that allied countries now share with Japan.

Last year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid respects to his country’s war dead when he visited Papua New Guinea.

Now the Pacific lives in peace, and our countries have moved on from the horror of war – but we will honour those who paid the supreme sacrifice.

We must ensure their loss was not in vain – by upholding democracy and liberty in our countries.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea, we honour and express our gratitude for all who have served – particularly those who lost their lives and lay buried before us.

Lest we forget.