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Rudd and O'Neill 'mindful' of UN Manus Island criticisms Indonesia foreign minister signals he is open to talks on Coalition boats policy
(about 2 hours later)
The Papua New Guinea prime minister, Peter O'Neill, has said he hopes the United Nations refugee agency understands the challenges his country faces in dealing with the management of asylum seekers. The Indonesian foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa, has signalled he is open to talks on the Coalition's policy to turn back people-smuggler's boats provided national, bilateral and regional policies enhancing border protection work in harmony.
O'Neill's comments on Monday at a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd, follow the publication of a damning report from the UNHCR concerning the regional immigration detention and processing facility on Manus Island. Natalegawa said he had good communication and dialogue with political parties and stakeholders in Australia, including key opposition players, and he argued national actions were only "troublesome" if they were not properly co-ordinated and communicated.
The UNHCR report found detainees on Manus Island showed signs of anxiety and depression, and that conditions were substandard. The PNG prime minister said he welcomed the assessment, and that the Manus facility remained a work in progress. "We will look into the details of it," O'Neill said on Monday. "Of course we just reopened the Manus facilities. We are rebuilding the permanent structure there." Asked about Indonesia's attitude to the Coalition's policy, the foreign minister repeated his argument that policies should be in sync with collective efforts by governments around the regional and around the world. Policies, he said in the interview with Sky News, must work in "synergy".
But he signalled his door was open. "It is important for us to be talking, and of course we are open to discuss it. This kind of narrative is quite a familiar one to Indonesia," Natalegawa said on Monday afternoon. "We need to be sure we are on the same wavelength."
Natalegawa confirmed that a summit being organised by Indonesia to consider regional solutions to people smuggling would take place in mid to late August.
The Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, proposed earlier this month that countries of origin, such as Afghanistan and Iran, transit countries such as Indonesia and Thailand, and destination countries such as Australia, meet in an "action-oriented" summit to curb people trafficking. The summit was proposed at the conclusion of a bilateral meeting with the Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd.
Natalegawa's comments on the Coalition's policy and the upcoming regional summit followed a meeting earlier on Monday between Rudd, and the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O'Neill. The leaders discussed border protection during talks in Port Moresby.
The UNHCR has published a damning report from the UNHCR concerning the regional immigration detention and processing facility on Manus Island. The UNHCR report found detainees on Manus Island showed signs of anxiety and depression, and conditions were sub-standard.
O'Neill said on Monday he welcomed the assessment, and that the Manus facility remained a work in progress. "We will look into the details of it," O'Neill said on Monday. "Of course we just reopened the Manus facilities. We are rebuilding the permanent structure there."
O'Neill said PNG wanted a permanent regional solution to people-smuggling. "We need to establish a permanent regional processing centre," he said. "We appreciate the UNHCR report and the recommendations and we hope they understand the challenges we have building a permanent solution to this problem."O'Neill said PNG wanted a permanent regional solution to people-smuggling. "We need to establish a permanent regional processing centre," he said. "We appreciate the UNHCR report and the recommendations and we hope they understand the challenges we have building a permanent solution to this problem."
Rudd said both Australia and PNG were broad-shouldered enough to accept the UNHCR critique, and he said the two countries would be mindful of the recommendations. "As I said, as this project is rolled out, we will be mindful of those recommendations as we construct the facility," Rudd said.Rudd said both Australia and PNG were broad-shouldered enough to accept the UNHCR critique, and he said the two countries would be mindful of the recommendations. "As I said, as this project is rolled out, we will be mindful of those recommendations as we construct the facility," Rudd said.
Rudd said PNG was an important part of a regional solution to people-smuggling, border security and asylum seekers – and he gave a strong signal that Australia would do more with PNG in the period ahead. Rudd remarked Australia would continue, strengthen and further bilateral cooperation with O'Neill. Rudd said PNG was an important part of a regional solution to people-smuggling, border security and asylum seekers – and he gave a strong signal that Australia would do more with PNG in the period ahead. Rudd remarked Australia would continue, strengthen and extend bilateral cooperation with O'Neill.
Rudd again signalled his intention to adjust Australia's asylum policy. "Where circumstances change Australia will adjust and continue to adjust and where necessary change our policy," he said. "As prime minister of Australia I will not shirk my responsibilities to deal with the ongoing challenge of people-smuggling." Rudd again signalled his intention to adjust Australia's asylum policy. "Where circumstances change Australia will adjust and continue to adjust and where necessary change our policy," he said. "As prime minister of Australia I will not shirk my responsibilities to deal with the ongoing challenge of people smuggling."
Rudd announced during his quick visit to Port Moresby that in line with the local priority to improve law and order, Australia would deploy more police to PNG. Rudd also committed funds for health and hospitals.Rudd announced during his quick visit to Port Moresby that in line with the local priority to improve law and order, Australia would deploy more police to PNG. Rudd also committed funds for health and hospitals.
Australia's prime minister has now departed for Queensland. Rudd has now departed for Queensland.
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