1. PM Takes the Helm in Pacific Region
2. Give Us A Break – Philippines Rejects Anti-Terrorism Critics
3. Personnel Land in East Timor
4. Fiji Election Win, Military Commander Challenges Leaders
5. Jakarta’s Envoy to Return to Canberra
6. Australia Glad To Sell, Not Lease, Uranium
7. US, Australia Sign Anti-Terrorism Pact
8. Canada to Join Kyoto Rival

1. PM Takes the Helm in Region, Patrick Walters, Australian, 2006-05-17

   In Washington, Mr Howard signalled a more active, interventionist path for Australia as the leading regional power in the South Pacific. “I indicated that this was an area where Australia accepted major responsibility, a lead responsibility,” he said. “The Pacific is our backyard and we are the country that has the prime responsibility for looking after the security exigencies as they arise.”

   • Strategic Force For Mounting Instability, Paul Dibb, Australian, 2006-05-16

      

2. Give Us A Break – Philippines Rejects Anti-Terrorism Critics, Cynthia Banham, SMH, 2006-05-18

   Philippine ambassador to Australia, Cristina Ortega, has asked critics of her country’s track record on fighting terrorism, to “give us a break”. Australia has made the S. Philippines a focus for its aid program, because of instability which it said could create an environment for terrorist networks. The ambassador said she wanted the Philippines and Australian relationship to be one of partners and allies, and not “about being a developing country and developed country”.

    

3. Personnel Land in East Timor, Sarah Smiles, Ben Doherty, Age, 2006-05-16

   A small contingent of ADF personnel has arrived in East Timor as part of a plan to protect Australian interests in the country should the situation deteriorate.

   • Timor Leadership Challenge Goes to Party, Jill Jolliffe, Age, 2006-05-17

      

4. Fiji Election Win Confirmed for SDL, Military Commander Challenges Leaders, Walter Zweifel, RNZI, 2006-05-18

   The leader of Fiji’s Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) Party, Laisenia Qarase, is to be sworn in as the prime minister this afternoon. But the SDL’s victory has been overshadowed by the disapproval from the military commander, Commodore Bainimarama, who has not ruled out declaring martial law. Commodore Bainimarama has also warned Australia and New Zealand against supporting moves to have him replaced with an outsider.

    

5. Jakarta’s Envoy to Return to Canberra, Mark Forbes, Age, 2006-05-17

   Indonesia will return its ambassador to Canberra after talks between Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and counterpart Hassan Wirajuda moved towards resolving the diplomatic crisis sparked by Australia granting asylum to 42 West Papuans.

    

6. Glad To Sell, Not Lease, Uranium, Michael Gordon, Age, 2006-05-17

   Australia has all but ruled out leasing uranium to foreign countries and then taking back and storing the unenriched waste. “I am attracted to Australia selling uranium to people who want to buy it – not lease it, buy it – in other parts of the world, subject to our obligations under the (nuclear nonproliferation) treaty and subject ot our own safeguard arrangements,” Mr Howard said.

   • US Department of Energy (DOE) – Global Nuclear Energy Partnership

   • Global Nuclear Energy Partnership – Federation of American Scientists

      

7. US, Australia Sign Anti-Terrorism Pact, AFP, ABC Online, 2006-05-18

   The memorandum of understanding provides cost-sharing over the next 10 years for combined research and development across technology areas and activities in battling terrorism. It enables the US to “tap into Australia’s extensive technological, intelligence and special operations capabilities to better serve war fighters and first responders on the front lines against terror”.

    

8. Canada to Join Kyoto Rival, Angus Grigg, AFR*, 2006-05-18

   Prime Minister John Howard will discuss climate change with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper today as Ottawa, which has overshot its Kyoto Protocol targets, prepares to join the six-member Asia-Pacific environmental partnership. The Asia- Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, comprises Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, India and the United States.
   * Subscription required.

Subscriptions

Austral Peace and Security Network is issued late on Mondays and Thursdays (AEST) by the Nautilus Institute at RMIT, Melbourne, Australia.

Subscribe to the free APSNet service: http://www.nautilus.org/mailman/listinfo/apsnet.

http://www.nautilus.org/mailman/listinfo/apsnet

APSNet is a partner publication to:

• SEAPSNet: Southeast Asia Peace and Security Network.

  http://www.siiaonline.org/seapsnet

• NAPSNet: The Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network.

  https://nautilus.org/napsnet/dr/

• AESNet: The Nautilus Institute Asian Energy Security Network.

  https://nautilus.org/aesnet/index0.html