UK, Australia condemn building, ignore terror
Britain’s Foreign Secretary found the time to address key areas of common concern for the two countries during talks with his Canberra counterpart last week.
AMID jokes about the Ashes and impending sporting showdowns between England and Australia at the Rugby World Cup later this year, Britain’s Foreign Secretary found the time to address key areas of common concern for the two countries during talks with his Canberra counterpart last week.
Notable topics under discussion between William Hague and Kevin Rudd were Iran’s nuclear capability and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Joining the pair in Sydney for the third Australia-UK Ministerial (AUKMIN) consultations were Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and British Defence Secretary Liam Fox.
Stressing the “importance and strength of the deep and longstanding bilateral relationship” between the countries and “its capacity to address contemporary global and regional challenges”, the resulting AUKMIN communique called on Israel and the Palestinians “to return as a matter of urgency, to direct talks on final status issues”.
While reaffirming “practical support for Palestinian institution building in preparation for statehood”, the statement also urged both sides “to refrain from actions which undermined confidence, such as settlement construction”.
Having highlighted the Jewish State’s activities, however, there was no mention of Palestinian rocket attacks or anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric emanating from the West Bank or Gaza.
Hague, who as Britain’s shadow foreign minister criticised the British government for not voting against the Goldstone report and for describing Israel’s actions as “disproportionate” during Operation Cast Lead, reiterated the issue of settlements during a press conference last Tuesday, again with no mention of Palestinian actions.
The comment drew the ire of Melbourne Ports MP Michael Danby. “Where was Mr Hague during the 10 months, recently concluded, when there was a total freeze on building in the territories?” asked Danby. “Why does this statement not condemn constant incitement by official Palestinian media? Typical of the UK Foreign Office lack of balance on this issue. Australia should not be part of it.”
On the matter of Iran, the AUKMIN communique stressed both countries’ “deep concern” over the Islamic Republic’s “failure to comply with UN Security Council (UNSC) and International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions on its nuclear activities”.
Affirming their commitment to “rigorous implementation of UNSC and autonomous sanctions”, the statement also noted that Iran’s meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council and Germany (P5+1) in early December was “a positive step” and “urged Iran to engage constructively with the P5+1 at talks later this month to remove doubt about its nuclear intentions”.
ZEDDY LAWRENCE
Caption: British Foreign Secretary William Hague (left) and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. Photo: DFAT.
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