Foreign Affairs Minister Tkatchenko expresses regret at US president’s “cannibal”remarks

The blunt comment made US President, Joe Biden assuming PNG as cannibals is totally unsubstantial and not acceptable at the international level.

Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko has expressed regret that President Biden’s suggesting of his uncle may have been eaten by cannibals in Papua New Guinea during World War II is totally wrong as it is not supported with evidence. 

“It’s rather unfortunate that President Biden’s remarks are not supported by official documents held within the US military and the State Department. 

“PNG- US relations have seen developments for better and stronger ties on the bilateral front in recent times and these apparent untrue remarks by the sitting President is a low point in our bilateral relations,” Foreign Minister Tkatchenko said

Minister Tkatchenko added that known records state that the President’s uncle was on a flight from Momote to Lae, over the Bismarck Sea, and never made it to its destination. 

”PNG hopes that the White House can correct this remark which has the potential to hurt our cordial relations,” Thatchenko said.

He said a Division of the US Military is retrieving and repatriating the remains of fallen servicemen from World War II and they can expand their search to also include civilians such as President Biden’s uncle. 

Minister Tkatchenko also notes that much effort has been put in to strengthen PNG-US relations recently and uninformed remarks like this can only undermine the hard yards made and hurt the relations.