Bishop: No shift in Iran policy
FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop declared there has been no shift in Australia’s foreign policy towards Iran and Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria when she met with leaders of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) last week.
FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop declared there has been no shift in Australia’s foreign policy towards Iran and Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria when she met with leaders of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) last week.
The meeting, with ECAJ president Robert Goot and executive director Peter Wertheim, was sought by the Jewish roof body following media reports of a shift in policy, which Bishop denied “in the clearest possible terms”.
She also said there is “no specific plan” to establish Iranian consulates in Sydney and Melbourne at this time.
“We continue to have discussions with Iran about the repatriation of 8000 of their nationals who came to Australia by boat,” Bishop said at the meeting. “This includes how best the Iranian government can process these matters.”
Regarding the nuclear agreement struck between Iran and the P5+1, Bishop stressed that Australia’s sanctions will remain in force until there is verification, and international acceptance, of Iran’s compliance with its obligations under the deal.
The Foreign Minister added that she had raised concerns with her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif about negative statements towards Israel.
Stating that the government was very proud of its solid record of support for Israel, Bishop noted the contrast between the present government’s depth of commitment and the “harsh and unfairly critical attitude” adopted by the previous government under former foreign minister Bob Carr.
On the question of Syria, Bishop expressed the view that the Assad regime had long ago lost its legitimacy.
Member for Melbourne Ports Michael Danby – who previously accused Bishop of “cosying up” to the Islamic Republic – said, “While I note that Ms Bishop did not rule out Iranian consulates in Melbourne or Sydney, her statement is a step in the right direction.”
He added, “Iran has used its diplomatic network to facilitate acts of terrorism against its ideological enemies. It was incredibly important that the Iranian diplomatic footprint not be expanded in Australia.”
Meanwhile, representatives of the Jewish community met with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, together with his parliamentary colleagues Danby and Mark Dreyfus, last week to discuss the ALP’s approach to Israel and other issues of concern.
Describing the discussion as “a very warm and positive exchange of views on a wide range of issues of concern to us”, Goot and Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council national chairman Mark Leibler said: “We were all grateful to Bill Shorten for initiating the meeting, for listening to our views and for the views that he expressed.”
EVAN ZLATKIS
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