| Submit your comments on this article |
| Down Under |
| Australia opens door to peace pact |
| 2005-04-12 |
| AUSTRALIA is softening its opposition to joining a non-aggression pact with Asian neighbours that threatens to stand in the way of an invitation to a major regional summit. Australia has consistently refused to join ASEAN nations in signing the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation, a pact banning the use of violence to settle regional conflicts. But the Government eased its hardline stance against the treaty after ASEAN members overnight flagged that being a signatory to the pact would be a precondition to joining the crucial East Asia summit later this year. ASEAN members said in a communique overnight that prospective summit partners must accede to the treaty and have substantive relations with ASEAN. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer remained optimistic Australia would take part in the summit, signalling further discussions with ASEAN over the treaty. "On the issue of the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation, I've had a discussion with some ASEAN foreign ministers over the last week," he said. "I've had a further discussion with the Indonesian foreign minister in the last 24 hours and we're going to see how we can work that issue through. "We obviously have some problems with the treaty but we'll be talking with them over the next few months about it. "We don't like the treaty as it currently stands but we are going to be talking to ASEAN about how this issue can be handled." Mr Downer said discussions so far had made him optimistic Australia would participate in the meeting. "I'll only say this, I'm pretty optimistic from my discussion with ASEAN ministers that we will be able to work this through," he said. "We very much look forward to participating in the East Asia summit in December." ASEAN members removed one critical barrier that could have stopped Australia taking part when it decided to take a more inclusive approach to potential members. This decision gives Australia, New Zealand and India the opportunity to join the summit if they sign the treaty. Otherwise, the meeting could have been restricted to a grouping known as ASEAN plus three, consisting of ASEAN members plus China, Japan and South Korea. Labor urged the Government not to let the treaty be an impediment to Australia joining the summit. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said Australian national interests were at stake. "Let's hope that this doesn't get in the road .... of Australia being able to participate in the first East Asian Summit due to be held later this year," he said. "When the summit first meets it will begin to shape the rules and the architecture of the emerging East Asian economic community and that's where Australia has very substantial economic and security interests at stake." |
| Posted by:God Save The World |
| #2 BAR's got it down pat. |
| Posted by: Kellog Briand 2005-04-12 6:56:32 PM |
| #1 Australia has consistently refused to join ASEAN nations in signing the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation, a pact banning the use of violence to settle regional conflicts. Why sweat it? Just sign on and disregard it later on if need be. Heaven knows that's precisely what China probably would/will do. But if protecting their integrity is of paramount importance, then Australia should steer clear of any agreement that might prove troublesome later on. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-04-12 6:16:54 PM |