E&OE
10 December 2008
Press Conference - Canberra
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith discusses his travel to Fiji today for the second meeting of the Pacific Island Forum Foreign Minister's Ministerial Contact Group.
SUBJECTS: Fiji, Human Rights Day, Sri Lanka, border protection, Afghanistan, Greece, Iraq, Zimbabwe
STEPHEN SMITH: Well later this morning I'll be leaving for Fiji as a member of the Pacific Island Forum Ministerial Contact Group. This'll be the Ministerial Contact Group's second visit to Fiji this year. Our objective of course is to see the restoration of democracy and the rule of law to Fiji.
The interim Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama gave a faithful and unconditional undertaking to the Pacific Island Leaders Forum in 2007 that he would conduct an election by the end of March next year.
In our previous visit to Fiji, the interim government were not definitive about whether they would hold an election by the end of March or not. And the Pacific Island Forums Ministerial Contact Group reported to the Niue Leaders Forum that the only thing standing in the way of an election by the end of March was the political will of the interim government.
Since we were last there, Commodore Bainimarama has said publicly he's not proposing to hold an election. So the first thing the Ministerial Contact Group will do will be to hear that from Commodore Bainimarama himself to ascertain from him whether he's proposing to conduct an election or not.
Given his public statements, it seems clear from afar that he's not proposing to do that. So that's the first thing we will need to have from the Commodore, a definitive statement one way or the other whether he's proposing to conduct an election, and we'll proceed from there.
The Ministerial Contact Group of course is made up of foreign ministers from Tonga, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu and Australia. So I look forward to joining my colleagues in Fiji in the course of the day.
Just some other matters I'd like to make reference to before taking your questions on Fiji. Of course today is Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Attorney-General has made some announcements today.
I'm releasing today a list of $1.5 million-worth of projects to countries in the Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East to support human rights activities, so those details have been distributed to you. The $1.5 million-worth of projects throughout the Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East reflect the importance that the Australian Government attaches to human rights, reflects the importance of our commitment to the universal declaration, and makes the point that protection of human rights is a very high priority of the Australian Government and the Attorney-General has been making that point in the course of the day.
Next can I announce that we're providing $4 million-worth of food aid to Sri Lanka. We've become increasingly concerned with the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian position in Sri Lanka, and so we're providing $4 million-worth of assistance for immediate food aid assistance in Sri Lanka. And we again call upon all sides of the conflict in Sri Lanka to respect human rights, to allow aid workers and humanitarian assistance to be delivered to displaced persons and people in the conflict areas. And we again make the point that we call on all parties to respect human rights in Sri Lanka and make the point that the conflict in Sri Lanka cannot be solved by military means alone. There needs to be a political settlement to that issue.
So some announcements on Fiji, on human rights and Sri Lanka. And I'm pleased to respond to your questions on those, or other issues.
QUESTION: Mr Smith, given that the interim government has made it clear that they're not going to hold the elections by March 2009, what exactly can the Ministerial Contact Group do?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well as I say, the first thing we want to do is to hear it from Commodore Bainimarama himself. We were in Fiji for our first visit in July, he wasn't definitive one way or the other. And our report to the Leaders was that the only thing standing in the way of an election was the political will of the interim government. Since we were there he said publicly on a number of occasions he's not proposing to conduct an election. We'd like to hear that from him first, that's the first thing.
Secondly, after we have our conversations with Commodore Bainimarama we will of course have conversations with other political leaders in Fiji, with the former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, with the former Leader of the Opposition, Mr Beddoes, and with all the political parties in Fiji, including Mr Chaudhry's Labour Party. We'll then present a report to the Pacific Island Forum Leaders. You'll recall that when the leaders met in Niue they resolved to request the Ministerial Contact Group to return to make a further report, and for that to be the subject of consideration by the Leaders at a special meeting in Papua New Guinea, which one can expect to be held in the early part of next year.
There are of course consequences which flow from the interim government not having an election, and not returning Fiji to democracy. And those consequences include ongoing sanctions which Australia has in place, so far as travel is concerned. But there will also be consequences so far as the Pacific Island Forum itself is concerned. And at Niue the leaders contemplated the possibility of suspension of Fiji from the Pacific Island Forum.
There are also consequences for Fiji so far as its membership of the Commonwealth is concerned. Fiji is of course subject to the Harare Declaration, and so the Commonwealth will also be interested in the failure, if that is to be the case, of Fiji to have an election by the end of March next year. So consequences do follow and flow and I suspect that will form part of our report to the leaders.
QUESTION: Minister, what are your briefings telling you about the consequences and the impact of the failure to restore democracy in Fiji on the ground? [Indistinct] having an effect [indistinct].
STEPHEN SMITH: The consequences are seriously adverse, both economically and socially. Fiji should be the Pacific's premier economy. It's not. We have seen since the interim government and the coup a decline in Fiji's economic and social circumstances. So there are adverse consequences which flow from moving away from democracy and the rule of law, and in Fiji it's living standards, social and economic conditions.
QUESTION: Minister, you mention the possibility of suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum and I gather even hint at it from the Commonwealth for Fiji. It - but could you be explicit for us? Would you support that measure yourself, and would our Government support those measures, if there is no election soon in Fiji?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, we always take these things step by step. The first step in the process is for the Pacific Island Forum Ministerial Contract Group to go to Fiji, which we're doing, to assess circumstances in Fiji and make a report to our Leaders, to the Prime Ministers and to the Premiers.
It'll then be a matter for the leaders to consider, which they've made clear they will do at a special Pacific Island Leaders' Forum in Papua New Guinea, which I suspect will be held early next year. So, it'll be a matter for the leaders to consider that. So far as the Commonwealth is concerned, it'll also be a matter for the Commonwealth, when it next meets, for leaders to contemplate what consequences flow.
QUESTION: But presumably, our Prime Minister will take advice from his Foreign Minister. What's his for… what are you going to advise on this if there is no election?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, my advice will be contained in the Ministerial Contract Group's report, which will be made to all of the leaders.
QUESTION: Minister, in relation to the issuing of a passport to the drug baron, Jack Lam, what - information do you have on that and what action's being taken?
STEPHEN SMITH: I'm sorry, I'm not in a position to respond to that. I'm happy to take it on notice and provide you with details later.
QUESTION: But obviously, there's some sort of problem with resourcing over in some of the consulates, in terms of vetting.
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, as I say, I'm not in a position to give you a response on the detail of that matter. I'm happy to take it on notice and provide you with a response in the course of the day.
QUESTION: Minister, are you concerned about the issue of people smugglers? Is this becoming a growing concern for you and do you think there will be more boats coming to Australian waters in coming weeks and days?
STEPHEN SMITH: I think there are two issues here. Firstly, there is the question of what is causing the boats to come. And the Government's analysis and very strong view is that what is causing the boats to come are what I've described as push factors. In other words, difficulties in countries in our region. Afghanistan is one example. Sri Lanka, I've mentioned earlier, is another example. So, there are the push factors which are causing people to flee from countries where there are very difficult circumstances.
That's the first point. Secondly, of course, is our border protection and security measures. We've made it clear that a combination of the excision of various islands, the continuing utilisation and use of Christmas Island and the resources that we've applied to border protection, by way of aerial surveillance and sea surveillance, is effective. Very effective. And the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Debus, has made it clear that if we need to add to those, you know, we have and we will.
We've seen, in the last couple of months an arrival of boats. We put that down to two factors, both seasonal and also we have become very concerned that the people smugglers, the illegal traffickers, are becoming more sophisticated. And we are responding to that. The best response, in our experience, and this analysis I think is true for the history of this over the last half dozen years, is very close working relationships and cooperation with our neighbours, particularly Indonesia.
And we have a very good and close working relationship with Indonesia, we've been in intense conversation with them in recent times, including at the recent Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum, which was held here in Canberra recently. So, we're very happy with the cooperation which we have with Indonesia on the ground. But we are very vigilant about this and we will continue to be vigilant.
Can I make this point? I see the Opposition, in part, because I'm a bit confused about what the Opposition is really saying on this point, but I've seen the Leader of the Opposition out there saying he ascribes, over the weekend, the recent arrivals to our change to the temporary protection visa arrangements.
The Government made the change to the temporary protection visa arrangements in the first half of this year. Six or seven months, or eight or nine months elapsed before we saw the boats arrive. There's no relationship in our view to the change in the temporary protection visa arrangements, which make life easier, more suitable and more appropriate for people who are given refugee status in Australia than under the previous Government's regime.
QUESTION: Minister, will there be a side meeting today in Bali on this issue between Mr Rudd and [indistinct]…
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, you'd need to ask Mr Rudd's Party about that. But we have been in regular, ongoing conversations with the Indonesian Government about this matter. It's part of the regular conversation I have with my counterpart, Foreign Minister Wirajuda. And the cooperation at agency level, police to police, military to military, is very, very effective and we're very pleased with that - with that relationship.
Of course, Indonesia is not the only government or nation in our region where we have these conversations. It's clear that we need to have, and we do have those conversations, with other nation states in our region. A growing issue of concern is Sri Lanka, so, obviously, we are looking at that in detail as well.
QUESTION: Overnight General Petreas canvassed a [indistinct] surge in Afghanistan. Is this something Australia would support and would we consider sending troops to boost those numbers?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, the Minister for Defence and the Prime Minister and I have made it clear that we're the largest non-NATO contributor to Afghanistan and we're not proposing to increase the number of troops we have in Afghanistan. President Elect Obama made it clear in the course of the election campaign that he was proposing to increase the US troop complement in Afghanistan and we think that is a good thing.
We also very strongly believe that there are, if you like, three things that need to occur in Afghanistan. There does need to be an increase in the troop complement to ensure peace and security in Afghanistan. I made this point to the NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, when I met him in Brussels a week ago, and we see that coming from the NATO members.
As I say, Australia is the largest non-NATO contributor. We have nearly 1100 troops in Oruzgan Province. So an increase in the troop numbers for peace and security reasons is, in our view, essential.
Secondly of course is the view that, which we strongly hold, that Afghanistan is not something where the only contribution is a military contribution.
There has to be a substantial civil capacity building contribution to enhance the capacity of the institutions of state in Afghanistan - police, army, justice, and administration - to manage their own affairs. Which is why at the Afghan Donors Conference in Paris in the first half of this year, Australia announced a substantial civil contribution; civil capacity building contribution. And it's something like $600 million over the last half dozen years. And I think the effect of the announcements in Paris were something like $250 million over the next two or three years.
We are open-minded about giving consideration to increasing that contribution.
The third element which is required in Afghanistan is of course, at some point in the cycle, the Afghan political leadership do have to have a political dialogue and have a political settlement to ensure a long-term enduring peace in Afghanistan.
QUESTION: [Fiji]…tourists are starting to go back there now, and it's starting to revive their economy. Do you, do you think that's a good thing? Would you advise Australians to go?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well we, we want to see Fiji as a fully fledged member of the international community. We want to see Fiji as a fully fledged member of the Pacific Island Forum of the Commonwealth. We want to see Fiji return to democracy in the rule of law.
That will make a significant contribution to Fiji's economy. We want Fiji to be one of the premier economies in the Pacific region.
QUESTION: [Indistinct] that they haven't returned to democracy; so, at this point, now, and coming into Christmas holidays, do you think Australians should be going there?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, it's a matter for Australians to make their own judgement about that. It's a matter for Australians to make their own judgement about that.
From the moment, the moment of the first coup in Fiji, over a decade ago, tourists have continued to go to Fiji. That's a matter for, for them.
But I make this substantial point: one of the adverse consequences of the coup in Fiji has been a deterioration of their economic and social circumstances. And that has in part been as a result of sanctions imposed by Australia as one nation state, New Zealand as another, but it's also been the economic response of other nation states. The European Union for example continue to refuse to apply their sugar levy to Fiji because Fiji, because of Fiji's refusal to return to democracy.
There are adverse consequences which flow as a result of Fiji not returning to democracy.
QUESTION: Minister, what's the latest you've had about the situation in Greece?
STEPHEN SMITH: The advice I had this morning was that we're not aware that any Australians have been caught up in the demonstrations or the violence.
Of course we want to see the issue in Greece resolved peacefully and peaceably.
We urge Australians, if they are in Greece, to obviously avoid demonstrations and to exercise caution. And we hope that the, that the political dispute resolves itself as quickly as possible.
But, my most recent advice this morning was that we're not aware of any Australians have been caught up in the events in Greece, and we certainly urge Australians who are in Greece to avoid demonstrations.
QUESTION: Minister, as at today, our forces in Iraq - unlike the US forces - don't have a status of forces agreement to remain beyond the end of the year…
STEPHEN SMITH: Well that's not true. There's a United Nations Security Council sanction which is good till 1 January.
QUESTION: Right. But beyond, beyond the first - beyond the end of the year, our Australian forces have no legal agreement to remain in the country.
STEPHEN SMITH: Which is, which is why, together with other nation states who have forces there, we're working very assiduously with the Iraqis, as we speak, to effect a status of forces agreement.
The same applies for the United Kingdom and other nation states.
We effectively agreed some time ago with the Iraqi Government that we would wait until their status of forces agreement with the United States had been resolved to then enable us to follow. And that's what we're doing. That's what the United Kingdom is doing.
QUESTION: And how confident are you that you'll achieve that in time, and if you can't, what happens?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, we are confident that we'll achieve it in time. And, as in all these things, we take it step by step.
QUESTION: Minister, just back on the people smuggling issue - does the government have intelligence to suggest that there will be more boats coming to Australia soon?
There's been some stories suggesting that there are a lot of people amassing in Indonesia, coming to Australia.
And secondly you said that people smuggling operations were becoming increasingly sophisticated. What does that mean?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, firstly, I never talk about intelligence. Secondly, we are always vigilant about these matters, which is why we are always in conversation with our partners and our neighbours, and why we continue to ensure that both our cooperation with our neighbours and our border patrols - both aerial and seaborne - are adequate and appropriate.
QUESTION: On Zimbabwe, do you support military intervention there?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, we're a long-standing supporter of the United Nations, and we support military intervention which is supported by the United Nations Security Council under the charter.
And, I'm not expecting that in the near future the United Nations will provide such authority for military intervention.
Having made that point, let me make the point I have been making since I think February this year, it's simply time for Mr Mugabe to walk off the stage. He should go.
He was rebuffed in the first round of the election, despite all his efforts at rorting.
Mr Tsvangirai did his best to effect a government of national unity. And we've seen Mr Mugabe stalling on that for a matter of months.
We've seen a terrible situation in terms of a terrible humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe go to an absolutely devastating situation, with an outbreak of cholera.
In the last week or so I have, I announced $8 million additional humanitarian assistance for Zimbabwe, both for food and also for assistance on cholera, with water sanitation.
And I'm currently giving consideration to more humanitarian assistance for Zimbabwe for cholera purposes.
QUESTION: Would, I mean, you say, you're leaving it to the United Nations Security Council…
STEPHEN SMITH: No, but let me make another point that I have been making consistently since all of this year; since January, February of this year; we continue to urge Zimbabwe's neighbours and the organisations in Africa, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, SADC to put maximum pressure on Mr Mugabe to go. And I was very pleased and welcome very much the recent remarks by the Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr Odinga who essentially said Mr Mugabe should go. That's our long standing position. He should go and the African neighbours, the African union SADC should continue to put maximum pressure on Mr Mugabe to do precisely that.
QUESTION: Do you think the Liberals would be a more competitive opposition if they weren't encumbered by the National Party?
STEPHEN SMITH: I'll simply make this point; Shane Stone was right when he said that the Howard Costello Government was mean and tricky, and he's right today when he says that you cannot paper over an organisation when it is subject to massive division.
Shane Stone has today said they are wracked by division. He was right when he said the Liberals were mean and tricky, and he's right when he says they're currently wracked by division.
QUESTION: Mr Smith, you mention a need for the Afghanistan Government to eventually have its own peace talks. Hamid Karzai's already mentioned the possibility or reached out extensively for peace talks with the Taliban's Mullah Omah, should the Australian Government, or will the Australian Government therefore support efforts by the current Afghanistan Government to talk with Mullah Omah?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well in the first instance it's a matter for the Afghanistan Government and the Afghan leadership. That's the first point. Secondly, I think everyone in the international community is saying the time for that to occur is not yet there because circumstances in Afghanistan don't allow it. From the Australian Government's point of view we don't have conversations with terrorists and we don't have negotiations with terrorists.
But in the first instance it will be a matter for the Afghanistan political leadership to have a political dialogue and a political settlement.
Now it may well be President Karzai who does that or it may well be someone else. The Afghanis themselves are subject to elections in the course of 2009 and 2010, both presidential and parliamentary.
QUESTION: Minister have you had any updates in the Britt Lapthorne case at all?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well I've seen the reports overnight. We continue to have an Australian Federal Police officer in Croatia who is in liaison with the Croatian authorities, and the advice I have is consistent with the reports you've seen from the Croatian authorities overnight. The investigation is ongoing. We of course continue to want to see a successful conclusion to that investigation and we continue to be at police level in consultation and liaison with the Croatian authorities.
QUESTION: Sorry. Back to Zimbabwe, do you - how do you see the - there appears to be some disaffection among members of the Zimbabwean army who haven't been paid obviously, and done some looting in Harare. Do you think this is a significant sight in terms of the breakdown of Mugabe's support?
STEPHEN SMITH: I think it is a sign that the essential cause of the problem in Zimbabwe is Mr Mugabe. And the sooner he goes the sooner we'll have the chance of rebuilding Zimbabwe, of rebuilding it in a humanitarian sense, in an economic sense, in a social sense and in a democratic sense. It's another reflection that the essential problem in Zimbabwe is the brutal Mugabe regime; the essential problem in Zimbabwe is Mr Mugabe.
QUESTION: Are you close to making a decision on whether or not you'll alter restrictions on foreign aid that allows people to be educated on abortion?
STEPHEN SMITH: We continue to have that under consideration.
QUESTION: You've talked a bit about the responsibility to protect doctrine. Can you say how it might apply to Zimbabwe?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well we very strongly support the notion of responsibility to protect becoming part of the international norms, becoming part of international law, and I strongly supported that at the United Nations general assembly in September. We've announced a program where we have a fund of $2 million to support projects which add to the discussion internationally of responsibility to protect. We think that it is well worthwhile seeking to enhance that notion in international law.
Again when it comes to the notion of the use of force or military intervention unless there is a request from a nation state the use of military force has to be sanctioned by the United Nations, and that will, I suspect, continue to be an aspect of responsibility to…
QUESTION: Australia's not a member of the Security Council but it can still discuss its own position with members of the Security Council.
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, as we do, …
QUESTION: And what will it be urging members of the Security Council…
STEPHEN SMITH: Well we are a strong supporter of the responsibility to protect notion and we are a very strong supporter of seeking to resolve matters in Zimbabwe. And as I say, the advice we give to all and sundry, including Mr Mugabe, is that the essential problem in Zimbabwe is Mr Mugabe and the sooner he leaves the better.
QUESTION: [Indistinct] to Indonesia. Have you made any decision on that?
STEPHEN SMITH: As a matter that continues to be under consideration by the Treasurer and the Government.
Okay, thanks very much. Thank you. Oh this may be the last opportunity or the last occasion we do this this year. So can I just take the opportunity firstly in thanking you for the civil and peaceful exchanges in the course of the year, and can I wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year.
Thanks very much.
[Ends]
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