MEDIA RELEASE

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ALEXANDER DOWNER

FA 39

20 April 1999

CARE Australia Workers: Consular Access

I can confirm the announcement made in Canberra today by the Yugoslav Ambassador to Australia, Mr Dragan Dragojlovic, that Australia has been granted consular access in Belgrade to the two detained CARE Australia workers.

Australian Ambassador Chris Lamb last night was granted access to Mr Steve Pratt and Mr Peter Wallace at the Ministry of Defence in Belgrade.

Both are reported to be in good shape and adequately fed. Mr Lamb was able to pass personal messages to the two Australians from their families and is hopeful of further consular access in the near future.

Both families were informed of the access overnight and I am ensuring that my office and department are keeping them fully up to date with developments.

Discussions with the Yugoslav authorities are at a delicate stage and it would not be in the best interests of Mr Pratt or Mr Wallace to comment further.

I very much welcome the granting of consular access by the Yugoslav authorities but I reiterate my call for their immediate release.

For further information: 

Department - Tony Melville 02 6261 1555