E&OE.........
PRIME MINISTER:
This is a pleasant surprise. It's good to see you all. Are you all
well? Did you all travel well? That's very good. Now, what would you
like to ask me? I am here to answer any questions you want to ask
me. As you know I'll be delivering a speech at lunchtime to a business
gathering and then I'll be meeting the Foreign Minister and then the
Prime Minister and then the dinner tonight and after this press conference
I will be seeing my good friend Mr Hashimoto, the former Prime Minister.
JOURNALIST:
Will you be raising the case of Steve Pratt and Peter Wallace with
Prime Minister Obuchi?
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes, I'll mention it at every point of my overseas visit. I'll mention
it to the Japanese Prime Minister, I'll also mention it Mr Hashimoto
who has been trying behind the scenes and I'll certainly raise it
with President Clinton. Can I say in relation to this issue that it's
one of those difficult matters where sometimes the less said the better.
Can I assure you and assure the Australian people the Government is
doing everything it humanly can to bring about these men's release.
It's a very difficult situation. I think everybody understands that
in order to secure their release we have to have the goodwill of Slobodan
Milosevic. It's as simple as that. Now, I think having said that people
should understand that the prospects of securing that release do not
automatically go upwards with the volume of public rhetoric on the
subject so please we must all understand that the end game is not
any political point scoring along the way. The end game is to get
the two men reunited with their families and that's what I am on about.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, do you believe that if you went to Belgrade personally
that would help?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, Mr Beazley has suggested that. Look, I will do everything that
on the best advice I have is most calculated to secure their release.
And I am not going to rule anything in or out. But it's easy to, sort
of, for anybody not in my position to say something on the run and
get a headline. But at the end of the day getting them out is the
best thing and I had the opportunity over the weekend to have a very
lengthy discussion with the Australian Ambassador in Belgrade, Chris
Lamb. I saw him within six hours of his return to Australia for a
briefing session. I saw him on Saturday, we talked about the matter
extensively. I am satisfied both on the basis of his direct advice
to me and on the basis of the advice I am receiving from the Department
of Foreign Affairs that Mr Downer has handled the thing correctly,
he's handled the thing with great commitment and skill. And as I say
sometimes the less said the better.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, how concerned are you about the recognition of Papua
New Guinea, of Taiwan and will you be discussing that today?
PRIME MINISTER:
No, I don't think I'll be discussing it today. I don't think it's
something that automatically comes within the operation of the sphere
of our relationship.
JOURNALIST:
[Inaudible].Pratt and Wallace. Are you saying that if you thought
it would help to go to Belgrade you would?
PRIME MINISTER:
No, what I am saying is that whatever is necessary to be done to promote
their releases by anybody that will be done. But I don't think you
should take that as necessarily answering your question. Glenn, I
really am asking that people understand that it's a very difficult
situation, playing it like an ordinary political issue is not the
right thing to do. And that plea is made to the Opposition, it's made
to the media. I think by and large the media has handled this thing
very carefully and it's just made to everybody. I just want to get
the two of them out but in order to get them out you have got to get
on the right side of Slobodan Milosevic.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard, would it help or hinder the two aid workers if you went
to Belgrade at this stage?
PRIME MINISTER:
I am not going to answer that question.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, you'll be discussing Indonesia today, there was another
attack on UN people in Timor yesterday. How concerned are you about
that?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh, very concerned. And we have put some very strong views
and we will be putting in other ways those views again to the Indonesian
Government. It's difficult. I am disappointed about what has happened
and I would say to the Indonesian Government that it's own credibility
in relation to the handling of this issue is very much in the international
spotlight.
JOURNALIST:
[Inaudible].seriously enough Mr Howard? Are you getting adequate responses
to representations the Government is taking?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, whilever things that happened last night happen I guess that's
the only thing you can measure the response by. I mean, what matters
is what happens on the ground rather than the words that are uttered
in response to representations. But our Ambassador was in Dili yesterday,
I think, and the.Mr Downer spoke to Mr Marker in Canberra yesterday
and certainly everybody is going to be putting their views very strongly
to the Indonesian Government.
JOURNALIST:
Is the situation worrying enough for you to call the President, the
Indonesian President?
PRIME MINISTER:
The problem with these situations is that you are asked because you
need to ask me something. When are you going to write the next letter
or make the next phone call? And sometimes the right time to write
the letter or make the phone call is not necessarily the time you
are asked whether you are going to do it. But if you don't say yes
it's then suggested you are not doing enough. I mean, I can't give
you any other answer to that. Look, once again if, whatever is needed
to maximise the communication of our concern that will be done.
JOURNALIST:
You will be discussing with Prime Minister Obuchi today the idea of
the investment conference that Australia is to organise for Indonesia.
Do you expect also to discuss with the Prime Minister how you could
perhaps exercise more pressure on President Habibie over Timor?
PRIME MINISTER:
I have no doubt that we will spend a little time talking about Indonesia
and East Timor. It's one of a number of important issues that I intend
to raise with him and we'll be getting each others views on it. But
clearly, Japan's views are important as, of course, are ours.
JOURNALIST:
What specific assurances will you be seeking from Mr Obuchi both on
trade and on Japan's leadership role in the region?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I don't think at this stage I should be, sort of, publicly declaring
that I'll be seeking this or that assurance. I'll have something to
say after I have seen him. I think it is courteous for me to see him
first and then..
JOURNALIST:
It's a very strong speech though you are making at lunchtime on those
issues. Will you..
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I am glad to hear that Fran. Terrific.
JOURNALIST:
Will you be putting things to the Prime Minister in those terms, in
terms of their leadership role they must take within the region?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I stand by everything I say in public.
JOURNALIST:
How serious is the risk of a new protectionism?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, protectionist sentiments are around the world. When I rang President
Clinton to talk about Australian lamb he said that it disturbed him
that in a country that was doing so well economically there was a
rising tide of protectionism. This is the last one. Jim.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, you said before that you wouldn't be raising the issue
of PNG and Taiwan recognition. What however is your reaction to Bill
Skates' decision to recognise Taiwan?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I mean every country makes its own decision according to its
own circumstances. I mean our policy remains, as you know, a one China
policy. And consistent with that we have good commercial relations
with Taiwan.
JOURNALIST:
What efforts has Australia put in to dissuade Port Moresby from this
cause of action?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I am not aware that we were consulted.
JOURNALIST:
[Inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER:
On indulgence.
JOURNALIST:
[Inaudible].to let Mal Colston off. Are you satisfied with that decision?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, look I don't comment on the DPP's decisions. It's an independent
body. I mean, I didn't seek in any way to express a view nor did the
Government, it would have been highly improper beforehand. The DPP's
utterly independent. I think if people have got concerns about the
DPP's decision then they should ask the DPP. He is a completely independent
officer, totally separate from the Government. In no way is he influenced
by the Government nor should he. Thank you.
[ends]