Transcript E&OE
15 June 2009
ABC2 Breakfast News
Subjects: Israeli Prime Minister,Benjamin Netanyahu's speech declaring a two-state solution to the middle east crisis; Iranian elections and Iran's nuclear program; North Korea sanctions; Australian troops in Afghanistan.
JOE O'BRIEN: For more now on the Iranian elections and overtures of peace in Israel, the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, joins us from Canberra.
Stephen Smith, good morning.
STEPHEN SMITH: Good morning, Joe.
JOE O'BRIEN: Now, is this really a serious offer from Benjamin Netanyahu?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, I think the key point about the speech from Prime Minister Netanyahu is that for the first occasion, the Prime Minister and his Government, since they were elected recently, have indicated that a two-state solution has to be the basis for an enduring peace in the Middle East. And this reflects Australia's long-standing policy, not just of this government but of previous Governments. It also reflects the basis on which the international community views or looks at the difficulties in the Middle East. So it's a speech that will require careful examination in the coming days. But I think the key point for the international community is for the first occasion we have an acknowledgment that a two-state solution is required as the basis for peace in the Middle East.
JOE O'BRIEN: Is it crucial though for Benjamin Netanyahu to make some sort of commitment on settlements if this offer is to be treated as serious?
STEPHEN SMITH: Australia's position is reflected by the general view of the international community and is consistent with the obligations that both parties have made under the Roadmap, that there should be a freeze on settlements. That's Australia's view. That's also the view that President Obama and the US Administration, through the Secretary of State Clinton, have also put very strongly, not just to the Israeli Government but put that view very strongly to the rest of the world. The Australian Government supports that view and we reflected that at the end of last year with a changed voting position at the United Nations. So a freeze on settlements is consistent with the obligations entered into under the Roadmap process and that should be respected.
JOE O'BRIEN: A freeze on settlements and also a repatriation of Palestinian refugees?
STEPHEN SMITH: The question of the right to refugees is very complex and complicated. That will no doubt be one of the issues which will be the subject of intense negotiation between the two parties. But I think what Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech reflects today is there is now a basis for a peace process for negotiations to commence and start. But we all know that to get a long-term just and enduring peace in the Middle East there has to be a negotiation process. We strongly support the efforts of the United States Administration, not just the President and the Secretary of State, but also Special Ambassador Mitchell, in these efforts. And we welcome the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu has for the first occasion indicated that peace in the Middle East has to be based on a two-state solution.
JOE O'BRIEN: We'll turn to Iran now. There are conflicting views on the legitimacy of this election. Does the Australian Government recognise the result?
STEPHEN SMITH: We know that candidate Mousavi, one of the presidential candidates, has indicated that he's proposing to lay complaints to the Iranian Election Commission. We will simply watch those developments. For the time being, we note the fact that there's been an election in Iran which has had very strong involvement by the Iranian people. We certainly hope that the outcome reflects the will of the Iranian people. But for the present, like the rest of the international community, we'll watch those developments and see whether Mr Mousavi pursues that before the Iranian Election Commission. The key point, of course, arising out of the Iranian election, whoever was successful was the need and is the need for Iran to change its policy, particularly on its nuclear program. Whether President Ahmadinejad was re-elected or whether Mr Mousavi won the election in some respects was academic. The key point is Iran must change its policy to reflect the wishes of the Security Council, the IAEA and the international community on its nuclear program.
JOE O'BRIEN: Specifically, what are those demands?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, that they need to cease their program. The fact that Iran is acting inconsistently with United Nations Security Council resolutions, that it's acting inconsistently with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency and moving towards, we fear, a weapons-based program rather than a civil nuclear energy program, is very worrying for the region and very worrying for the international community. So President Ahmadinejad and Iran needs to change policy on this front and Australia very strongly supports the sanctions that the Security Council have imposed in this matter. And we've also last year announced our own autonomous sanctions to reflect the fact that we very strongly believe that Iran needs to desist from its nuclear program in this way.
JOE O'BRIEN: And just in relation to nuclear problems with another nation, North Korea. Will Australian ships get involved in stopping and searching North Korean ships suspected of carrying banned nuclear or missile components?
STEPHEN SMITH: At this stage we don't have any ships in what you'd regard as the relevant location. But if that were to come to pass, Australia would act consistently with the United Nations Security Council resolution which the Security Council adopted over the weekend. It very carefully lays out additional sanctions against North Korea. It very carefully lays out the capacity of the international community to interdict in limited circumstances. And if an Australian ship were to come in contact with a North Korean ship, it would act consistently with the United Nations Security Council resolution. But currently, we don't see that prospect having much likelihood of occurring in the near future.
JOE O'BRIEN: Now, we've been running a story this morning. One of our ABC reporters was with an Australian unit over in Afghanistan and that unit came under fire over several days, highlighting the problem that it's still an incredibly dangerous situation over there. What is the progress of the areas where Australian troops are involved in at the moment in Afghanistan?
STEPHEN SMITH: Afghanistan is very difficult and very dangerous and this has been acknowledged consistently by the Australian Government, acknowledged also by my colleague, the Defence Minister, Senator Faulkner, who was in Afghanistan over the weekend. Afghanistan remains difficult and dangerous, but it also very much is in Australia's national interest to continue to play its role as part of the international community in staring down what is currently the hotbed of international terrorism.
JOE O'BRIEN: Okay, Stephen Smith in Canberra, thanks very much for talking to us this morning.
STEPHEN SMITH: Thanks, Joe. Thank you.
[Ends]
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