News Stories – 22 May 2008
WTO Doha Round: Release of Revised Negotiating Texts
The release of revised negotiating texts on agriculture and industrial products is an important step forwards concluding the Round. All WTO Members must now engage constructively to keep the negotiations moving forward.
The WTO Doha Round took a step forward this week with the much-anticipated release of revised negotiating texts on agriculture and industrial products (non-agricultural market access or NAMA).
No country will be completely happy with the texts – for example on NAMA Australia would like a smaller gap between what is asked of developed and developing countries. The priority now is for all WTO Members to engage constructively and keep the negotiations moving forward, look forward to officials meeting very soon to discuss the texts in detail.
These discussions would pave the way for a Trade Ministers meeting in Geneva as soon as possible.
Further break-throughs in the Round are needed very soon for it to be concluded this year.
Australia considers a deal in 2008 is still achievable and would boost confidence in the global economy. An injection of political will is now needed to drive home a Doha deal.
Australia Supporting the Commonwealth
The Australian Government supports the Commonwealth’s mandate of promoting the fundamental political principles of democracy, good governance and rule of law through its active involvement in the wide range of Commonwealth agencies and activities. Australia welcomes Pakistan’s re-admission to the Councils of the Commonwealth.
Australia has a long history of involvement in the Commonwealth, joining as a founding member in 1931, and actively participates in Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM), including hosting CHOGM in 2002, in the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) when a member (most recently in 2002-2003), and in the network of Commonwealth meetings covering issues including finance, law, education, health, youth affairs and human rights.
The Australian Government supports the Commonwealth’s mandate of promoting the fundamental political principles of democracy, good governance and rule of law through its active involvement in the wide range of Commonwealth agencies and activities.
The Australian Government welcomes the decision by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to readmit Pakistan to the Councils of the Commonwealth immediately and unconditionally. The Group welcomed Pakistan’s progress on the separation of the offices of Head of State and Chief of Army Staff, the lifting of a state of emergency, the conduct of credible parliamentary elections, the removal of restrictions on private media and moves to reinforce the independence of the judiciary.
The Australian Government continues to urge the Interim Government in Fiji to work towards the restoration of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Fiji was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth after the coup in December 2006. The suspension continues following the recent CMAG meeting.
Australia shares the Commonwealth’s concern about the lack of genuine progress towards an election in Fiji, and about human rights abuses, including attacks on freedom of speech. These have to be redressed by the Interim Government before lifting the suspension could be contemplated.
Australia welcomes the Commonwealth’s efforts to encourage political dialogue in Fiji.
The Australian Government hopes that Zimbabwe, which withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003, will also work towards meeting the conditions set for its return. Zimbabwe’s return to the Commonwealth would require it to comply with Commonwealth values, principles and priorities including democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights as set out in the 1971 Declaration of Commonwealth Principles and subsequent Declarations, including the Harare Declaration.
Australia is the third largest financial contributor to the Commonwealth and actively supports its role in advancing the interests of developing countries and small states including by providing substantial financial support (over
$10 million annually) to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation – the Commonwealth’s main development arm – and as a financial contributor to the Commonwealth Joint Office for small states in New York to assist Commonwealth countries representation at the UN.
International Security: Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
Visit of Executive Director, CTBT Organization Preparatory Commission to Australia, provided an opportunity for discussions with Mr Smith on Australia’s renewed interest in nuclear disarmament and to publicly urge states to ratify the Treaty.
Australia is committed to progressing nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
CTBT is a vital framework for achieving progress towards these goals.
Entry-into-force of the CTBT is an immediate disarmament and non-proliferation priority. Australia takes all appropriate opportunities to clearly register the priority we attach to ratifying the CTBT.
Minister for Foreign Affairs made a renewed call for universal adherence of the CTBT, and in particular by the nine countries upon whose ratifications enter-into-force of the Treaty depends. These nine countries are the United States, China, Indonesia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and India. In total, 178 countries have signed the CTBT and 144 have ratified.
Executive Director, CTBTO, Ambassador Toth toured Geoscience Australia, whose facilities played a significant role in supporting the CTBT Organization's International Monitoring System (IMS) efforts to monitor the 2006 North Korean nuclear tests. The IMS also contributes to early detection of tsunami activity.
Australia and the Commission expect soon to settle an Agreement strengthening, inter alia, the tsunami warning system for Australia and the region.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): Outcome of 2008 Preparatory Committee (PrepCom)
Australia’s active participation in the second NPT PrepCom was recognised. NGOs were included in the Australian delegation. We called on nuclear weapon states to make deeper, faster, and irreversible reductions in their nuclear arsenals. In the lead up to the 2010 NPT Review Conference, we will be working closely with like-mindeds to narrow differences between states on the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, pace of the nuclear weapon states implementation of their disarmament commitments, and on building support for strengthening the NPT.
Australia’s active participation was recognised by other delegations and the strong NGO presence (including Australian NGOs).
On disarmament issues, the US and UK expressed concerns that the strategic environment remained an impediment to faster paced disarmament.
On proliferation issues, compliance challenges posed by Iran, the DPRK and recently, Syria, received heavy interest
Australia joined others in calling on Syria to cooperate fully with the IAEA.
On strengthening safeguards, the IAEA called for states without Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements or Additional Protocols (AP) to have these in place by the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
Australia urged others to make the AP a condition of supply.
On peaceful uses of nuclear technology, Non-Aligned Movement countries stressed the inalienability of Article IV rights and regarded as premature the consideration of multinational fuel assurance proposals.
Australia and like-mindeds stressed that Article IV rights were not unqualified but subject to NPT non-proliferation provisions.
The outlook for the 2010 Review Conference is clearly marked by the differences between the nuclear weapons states and the non-nuclear weapons states, with the non-compliance challenges posed by DPRK, Iran, and recently Syria, complicating the task of building momentum for a strengthened NPT.
News Stories - 15 May
Burma: Response to Cyclone Nargis
Australia will provide $25 million in humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma affected by Cyclone Nargis. Australia remains concerned by the Burmese regime’s inadequate response to the cyclone and is urging the Burmese regime to allow access for humanitarian assistance.
Australia will provide $25 million (US$23.6 million) in humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma affected by Cyclone Nargis, $12.5 million will go to the UN Flash Appeal and $12.5 million will be provided through international agencies and NGOs with the ability to deliver assistance on the ground.
On 13 May the Prime Minister announced that a Royal Australian Air Force C 17 Globemaster aircraft had delivered 31 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to Rangoon airport for distribution to the affected areas.
Australia remains concerned by the Burmese regime’s inadequate response to the cyclone. Although there has been some progress, international humanitarian workers are still being denied visas and access to the Irrawaddy Delta. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said Burma could face an outbreak of disease that could dwarf the current crisis. Australia is urging the Burmese regime to allow access for humanitarian assistance and we will continue to examine options for the provision of further Australian assistance.
Political Violence in Lebanon
Australia remains deeply concerned by the ongoing political violence and tensions in Lebanon and the Government condemns any actions which undermine the legitimate government of Lebanon.
Australia remains deeply concerned by the ongoing political violence and tensions in Lebanon. We urge all parties to stop the violence and to find a political solution to the current tensions and call for all countries in the region to support the Arab League’s initiative to resume national dialogue aimed at electing the Lebanese President.
Australia condemns any actions which undermine the legitimate government of Lebanon. We have long supported Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and integrity and call for the implementation of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
There are currently 3118 Australians registered with DFAT as being in Lebanon
however, we estimate that there may be as many as 25 000 Australians in Lebanon.
The Australian Government is strongly urging Australians not to travel to Lebanon due to the highly volatile security and political situation.
We are urging Australians in Lebanon to remain indoors in a safe location, away from windows, follow local advice and monitor the media for new security threats.
The Australian Government is not evacuating Australian citizens at this stage.
Our travel advice reflects our assessment that the safest course of action at the moment is for Australians in Lebanon to remain indoors in a safe location and avoid unnecessary local travel.
Zimbabwe: Elections
The Australian Government maintains that violence and intimidation must cease for the second round of Presidential voting in Zimbabwe to be free and fair. The campaign needs to be subject to international supervision and scrutiny, including by the media.
The Australian Government condemns the ongoing violence and human rights abuses by government youth militias and Zimbabwean security forces. Violence and intimidation must stop for a second round of Presidential voting to be credible
free and fair elections cannot be held in a climate of politically orchestrated fear and intimidation. We support calls for electoral observers and free access for media.
The international community, including Australia, stands ready to support Zimbabwe’s African neighbours in finding a peaceful solution to the current situation. Australia would be willing to participate as electoral observers in the presidential run-off if asked to do so.
Australia, in partnership with others in the international community, stands ready to re-engage and participate in a reconstruction effort with a Zimbabwe government that properly and fairly represents the democratic will of the Zimbabwean people and is committed to political and economic reform.
Australia is committed to intensifying humanitarian relief and human rights support for ordinary Zimbabweans through the Australian Fund for Zimbabwe which is expected to amount to $12 million in 2007-08.
The welfare of the Australian community in Zimbabwe remains a priority for the Australian Government. There are over 800 Australians registered in Zimbabwe, most of whom are in Harare.