четверг, 1 марта 2012 г.

Fed: Somare's hard line to figure in talks

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Fed: Somare's hard line to figure in talks

CANBERRA, Aug 11 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard will fly to Papua New Guinea on Tuesdayto congratulate his new PNG counterpart Sir Michael Somare, who has taken a hard lineon Australia after just days in office.

Sir Michael last week ruled out accepting more asylum-seekers into Australia's processingfacility on Manus Island.

In opposition, Sir Michael was very critical of the deal on asylum seekers, made withoutgoing prime minister Sir Mekere Morauta, which expires in October.

He has also rejected asking Australia for more foreign aid despite economic problemswhich a senior PNG official last week said required an immediate cut of $250 million tothe national budget.

PNG is the largest single-nation recipient of Australian aid funds, with a total ofaround $350 million in development and other funding budgeted in 2002/03.

But Mr Howard's brief visit to PNG won't be all difficult international relations.

The unveiling of a new Australian memorial at Isurava to commemorate the 60th anniversaryof the Kokoda Track would be a high point.

"Kokoda is one of the pivotal moments of Australia's wartime history," Mr Howard saidin a statement.

"From July to November 1942, thousands of Australian servicemen fought superior enemynumbers and tropical disease in rugged terrain in a determined effort to halt the Japaneseadvance towards Port Moresby.

"The Isurava Memorial stands at the site of one of the key battles of the Kokoda campaignwhere Queensland Private Bruce Kingsbury of the 2/14th Battalion earned the first VictoriaCross to be awarded in the South-West Pacific theatre of World War II."

After PNG, Mr Howard will travel to Suva, Fiji, for the annual Pacific Islands Forum- and further political upheaval.

Anti-Australian sentiment among member nations is running high because of differencesover the preferred candidate for the forum's secretary-general post.

Incumbent Secretary-General Noel Levi has said the job should go to a Pacific Islander,a stand that prompted Australia to ask for an explanation of his comments.

Mr Levi says continuing to push for Australian candidate Greg Urwin to get the jobrisks splitting the forum.

Mr Howard will leave for PNG on Tuesday after a Cabinet meeting in Cairns.

AAP kjp/jmd/de g

KEYWORD: HOWARD PACIFIC

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