Interview with Al Jazeera English, Dubai

Subjects: Afghanistan, Wikileaks, Middle East Peace Process, Iran

Transcript, E&OE, proof only

30 November 2010

JOURNALIST: Foreign Minister, about Afghanistan, how committed is Australia to the mission there?

KEVIN RUDD: Well we are for the long term because Afghanistan is our friend, that's why we're attending a conference here in United Arab Emirates to look at long term investment opportunities for Afghanistan as well.

It's not just a security challenge, it's an economic challenge so that real benefits are delivered to the Afghan people.

JOURNALIST: The Australian political landscape is a bit different now with minor parties having different opinions on the troops being there. Can you be as committed today as what you were say six months ago?

KEVIN RUDD: Absolutely. We've recently had a debate in the Australian parliament on this. What was remarkable about the debate was the high degree of consensus about the need to deal with Afghanistan for the long term.

Australians are very practical people. We understand the challenges have been great, but we also understand that we need to help the Afghans obtain the capacity to look after their own security and also help them to develop their own economy. We're doing both, particularly in the province of Uruzgan, but we've got also responsibilities across the country as a whole.

JOURNALIST: You're on a diplomacy mission through this region at the moment, how damaging have been these Wikileaks cables from the US to diplomacy in general and what you're trying to do this week?

KEVIN RUDD: Well I think for every nation-state in the world this unauthorised release of diplomatic communications around the world has been a major problem. Let's be very frank about it. We the Australian Government condemn it because it helps nobody.

Nation-states are trying to deal with complex challenges at the moment. The reason we have diplomacy is it remains private, this has fundamentally undermined that and I believe those responsible for it should be held accountable to the full processes of the laws which prevail, be it in Australia or elsewhere in the world.

JOURNALIST: One of those responsible is an Australian citizen. How serious is the Australian Government about assisting the US in efforts to prosecute him?

KEVIN RUDD: We are deadly serious about this. As I said this is a challenge not just for the United States but the US allies, friends and other countries around the world, other partners with whom we work diplomatically, including in the Arab world and the Muslim world on complex and sensitive questions.

So the Australian Government will do all within its power within the remit of Australian laws to deal with those responsible. The Australian Attorney General's already made a comprehensive statement to that effect.

JOURNALIST: How difficult will it be though for you this week taking in conversations with important people in this part of the world who've just seen important conversations they've had with US equivalents of yourself, how difficult is that going to be do you think to get an open and frank and honest exchange of ideas?

KEVIN RUDD: I believe that around this region and more broadly in the world we're dealing with diplomatic professionals. We all recognise that problems occur, and this is one of them, but it shouldn't impede, and I don't believe it will impede the standard of engagement which we have, which in our region for example have the continued challenge of Iran, the continued challenge of bringing about a just and sustainable peace settlement in the Middle East which has a independent Israeli and an independent Palestinian state. This is the core business of our region's diplomacy, it will continue.

This is a problem, we recognise that, but we don't intend to allow it to get in the road.

JOURNALIST: What do you think is the number one focus for you at this Bahrain forum that you're attending?

KEVIN RUDD: In Bahrain the forum has been going for some seven years and it deals with the range of regional security challenges. Obviously in this part of the world we are dealing with the concerns which are represented by Iran's nuclear program, we are dealing with the concerns of piracy in the waters off the Arabian peninsula. We are dealing with obviously challenges of terrorism in parts of the Horn of Africa and the associated region and also with the wider challenges to security as well, including the core question of a just and sustainable peace settlement for the Middle East which caters for the interests of the Israeli people and caters for the interests of the Palestinian people. We in Australia for example have been strongly supporting the Palestinian authority with some $140 million of direct assistance to the Authority over the last two or three years. I'll be visiting Ramallah myself again very soon in order to provide further assistance to the needs of the Authority across supporting the Palestinian people, their education needs, their health needs etcetera.

JOURNALIST: And where do you see things heading with Iran? I mean according to these Wikileaks cables there's quite a degree of - quite a push from a lot of Arab countries for military intervention. What's the Australian position?

KEVIN RUDD: We don't comment on the content of any purported release, unauthorised release of any diplomatic communication.

Separately however our policy on Iran is simply that Iran needs to adhere to international law. There are binding resolutions of the United Nations Security Council which reflect the considered opinion of the international community.

Iran has obligations under the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran stands in contravention of its international obligations.

We respect the Iranian people, we respect the antiquity of their civilisation. Anyone who has studied ancient Persia, who understands the wonderful literature and artistic achievements of that enormous civilisation and its rich, modern intellectual tradition has a deep respect for the Persian people, the Iranian people. But its Government right now is acting in defiance of international law.

JOURNALIST: Thank you very much for your time.

END

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