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IT, WE WOULD NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE FINANCIAL DIMENSIONS OF IT AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO HAVE A LOOK AT AND SO I AM SIMPLY NOT IN A POSITION TO GIVE A GOVERNMENT REACTION ON IT. ITS JUST SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS AN HONOUR FOR AUSTRALIA TO EVEN BE THOUGHT OF BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CONFERENCE INVOLVING FIFTY OR SIXTY COUNTRIES, NOT JUST THE IMMEDIATE REGIONAL ONES BUT ALL THOSE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE HAD AN INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE OBVIOUSLY ON A QUESTION OF MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CONCERN AND OF HUGE GENERAL IMPORTANCE BUT BEYOND THAT I DONT WANT TO COMMENT ANY FURTHER. I JUST SIMPLY MENTION IT AS AN EXPLORATORY QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN RAISED.
QUESTION - INDISTINCT
SENATOR EVANS
IT IS THE SUBJECT OF AN EXPLORATORY OVERTURE. WHETHER BY THAILAND SPECIFICALLY OR ASEAN IN GENERAL REMAINS TO BE SEEN. I MEAN ITS JUST AN EXPLORATORY FEELER TO SEE WHETHER AUSTRALIA MIGHT BE PREPARED TO DO IT AND WE WILL RESPOND IN KIND WHEN IT BECOMES CLEARER WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO DO, OR IF WE ARE ASKED.
QUESTION
THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA, MR SOMARE, HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN AND DOUBTS ABOUT THE TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP WITH INDONESIA. YOU ARE MEETING UP WITH HIM ON THE WEEKEND. WHAT IS AUSTRALIA'S POSITION GOING TO BE ON THAT, IF ASKED?
SENATOR EVANS
I WOULD PREFER TO HOLD OFF IN RESPONDING TO THAT UNTIL I SEE WHAT, IF ANYTHING, MR SOMARE EITHER HAS SAID OR SAYS TO ME. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY AUSTRALIA WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE CONSUMNATION OF THAT PARTICULAR TREATY BECAUSE IT DID SEEM TO BE TAKING THE HEAT OFF IN TERMS OF THE THE PNG/INDONESIA RELATIONSHIP. WE HAVE BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING OF ANY DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE INVOLVED, THE CREATION OF BETTER INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR RESOLVING BORDER AND OTHER PROBLEMS BETWEEN PNG AND INDONESIA INCLUDING INFORMAL MECHANISMS, HOTLINES AND THE LIKE AND I WILL NO DOUBT BE PUTTING THOSE POINTS AGAIN TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUT I WOULD PREFER NOT TO ANTICIPATE WHAT I SAY UNTIL I KNOW HOW THEY PERCEIVE ANY CURRENT DIFFICULTIES.
XC. 0.8K99072
CM. ALL PROPERJOHN AOIS 7032A
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88/10/28 at 16: 6