Expulsion of Syrian Chargé d’Affaires
Syrian Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Jawdat Ali was this afternoon notified of the Minister’s decision to expel him from Australia in response to the massacre of more than 100 civilians in the village of Haoula.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr said Mr Ali was advised at 4.30pm today that he and one other diplomat from the Syrian Embassy were required to depart the country within 72 hours.
“The Syrian Government can expect no further official engagement with Australia until it abides by the UN ceasefire and takes active steps to implement the peace plan agreed with Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan,” Senator Carr said.
“This massacre of more than 100 men, women and children in Haoula was a hideous and brutal crime.
“The Syrian Chargé has again been advised to convey a clear message to Damascus that Australians are appalled by this massacre and we will pursue a unified international response to hold those responsible to account,”.
Senator Carr said an international response could include referrals to the International Criminal Court and imposing UN sanctions such as an arms embargo as well as financial and travel restrictions on identified individuals and entities.
International Committee of the Red Cross
Meeting with Pierre Krähenbühl, Director of Operations, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Ms Linh Schroeder, Head of the ICRC’s Regional Delegation and Mr Len Blazeby, Head of the ICRC’s Australian Office in Parliament House, Canberra on May 28, 2012.
I met this afternoon with Pierre Krähenbühl, Director of Operations, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The ICRC is a critical partner in responding to humanitarian needs, particularly in conflict regions.
It operates in many of the most dangerous and remote parts of the world. I was delighted to have an opportunity to acknowledge and encourage its excellent work.
Syrian Chargé d’affaires
The Syrian Chargé d’affaires, Mr Jawdat Ali, has been called in today to receive Australia’s message of condemnation for the atrocities perpetrated against civilians in the village of Haoula, including the massacre of an estimated 92 people.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Carr, said it was made clear to Mr Ali that Australia expected the Syrian Government to cease military operations and abide by the ceasefire brokered by Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan.
“This massacre of civilians in Haoula is a hideous and brutal crime,” Senator Carr said.
“In its wake, the onus is on the Syrian Government to demonstrate a commitment to peace and immediately withdraw from military action.
“The Syrian Chargé was asked to convey a clear message to Damascus – that Australians are appalled by this massacre and we will pursue a unified international response to hold those responsible to account.”
Senator Carr said an international response could include a referral to the International Criminal Court, and UN sanctions such as an arms embargo and financial and travel restrictions against identified individuals or entities.
Australia, the European Union and the United States have already imposed sanctions on Syria. Australia’s autonomous measures include travel and financial restrictions on 106 individuals and 28 entities, and an arms embargo.
Senator Carr said Australia would also consider additional sanctions and further humanitarian assistance.
High Commissioner of the UN Relief Works Agency, Mr Filippo Grandi and Foreign Minister of Australia, Bob Carr sign a five year strategic partnership for Palestinian Refugees on May 28, 2012
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr today announced Australia would support additional teachers and doctors for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East, with a $90 million funding agreement to be signed with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Canberra this afternoon.
The agreement would provide the $90m in overseas aid to be distributed by UNRWA over five years, supporting education and medical care for Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The agreement would be signed by Senator Carr and UNRWA Commissioner General Mr Filippo Grandi in Canberra today.
“More than 1.4 million Palestinians live in recognised refugee camps in the Middle East, including those fleeing ongoing violence in Syria,” Senator Carr said.
“The total number of Palestinian refugees in the region could exceed five million.
“Today’s funding agreement means more Palestinian children will go to school, and more doctors will be supported to work in refugee camps and Palestinian communities.
“That’s good news on humanitarian grounds, and good news for Middle Eastern regional stability.”
Senator Carr said while Australia’s first priority was always its own citizens, there was room for wealthy countries to also do their part in fighting poverty overseas.
Since 2007, Australian aid has:
- helped more than 470,000 Palestinian refugees attend school in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, including more than 200,000 girls; and
- supported 4200 health workers to provide basic and emergency care to Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to provide assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees. Australia has provided over $119 million to UNRWA since 2000, to deliver education, health, housing and infrastructure services to Palestinian refugees.
With Thai Foreign Minister HE Mr Surapong Towijakchaikul in Parliament House, Canberra on May 28, 2012
Today I met Thai Foreign Minister HE Mr Surapong Towijakchaikul in the margins of the visit to Australia by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck.
Australia’s relationship with Thailand is stronger than ever as we celebrate this year’s 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Massacre in Syria
We have asked Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations to begin discussing with other governments the prospects for increasing sanctions and other measures against the Syrian Government.
The action follows the international condemnation of the killing of 92 civilians in the Syrian town of Haoula on May 26.
The massacre was a hideous and brutal crime.
No effort should be spared in bringing the perpetrators of this atrocity to justice.
The Assad regime must cease all military operations immediately, as required under Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s peace plan.
UN observers must also be allowed immediate access to Haoula to start work on determining responsibility for this attack, as well as to all other conflict zones in Syria.
This matter should also be immediately brought before the UN Security Council, for a unified international response.
Such a response could include a referral to the International Criminal Court and imposing international sanctions such as arms embargos and financial and travel restrictions.”
The international community can no longer stand by while the Syrian Government fails to honour its commitment to Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s Six Point Plan.
Australia’s autonomous sanctions regime against Syria includes travel and financial restrictions against 106 individuals and 28 entities and an arms embargo. Australia stands ready to consider additional sanctions measures and humanitarian assistance.
New Chinese power plays are nothing to be feared
An op-ed I wrote, published in The Daily Telegraph today:
Last week, the Australian navy frigate HMAS Ballarat arrived in China and moored off Shanghai’s historic Bund.
Ballarat is an unusual sight on the shoreline of one of China’s biggest business and commercial centres. But it’s a symbol of our recent history and our growing friendship.
Australia is one of only two countries to have military dialogue at the highest defence levels with China. On this occasion, HMAS Ballarat is in China for a different reason. It’s there as part of a program of activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and China in 1972.
Four decades ago one of my political heroes, Gough Whitlam, initiated this far-sighted shift in foreign policy from opposition and gave it effect after he was elected Prime Minister. Now, in the Asian century, the relationship between Australia and China is broad and deep and covers much more than the massive trade in mineral resources and energy and the growing investment profile between our countries.
Our $113.3 billion in two-way trade last year included supplying China with almost 50 per cent of its total iron ore imports and 25 per cent of its coal imports.
We are also building a stronger commercial relationship in services and agriculture.
So there’s no doubt that global and economic power is shifting to Asia and a large part of the shift is the re-emergence of China.
As the new Foreign Minister, my first visit to China was a priority. In Shanghai, Beijing and Shenyang I met members of China’s political and military leadership. I also met with business people and academics.
With my Chinese counterparts, we discussed our bilateral relationship and ways to strengthen the full range of our economic and strategic ties.
On this visit, I made the point that a prosperous China, constructively engaged in regional and global affairs, was good for China, good for the region and good for Australia.
I also said that China’s economic growth will naturally be accompanied by military modernisation. There should be no surprise in this. The same is true for countries like India, Indonesia and indeed Australia. But the manner in which China exercises that strength is being watched closely by China’s neighbours in the region.
Australia has a strong interest in a mutually beneficial relationship with China.
Thirty years after Deng Xioaping announced the open door policy, China is on the international stage.
We want to see China playing a constructive role in a rules-based international order.
And we look forward to seeing China play a stronger role in international meetings, commensurate with their growing economic strength.
As China continues to grow, the forces of globalisation and economic integration will influence the direction and tone of relations in Asia.
But I do not believe that China’s rise is America’s decline.
As the saying goes, all boats rise on the same tide.
America will remain the dominant global power.
I don’t subscribe to the theory that the US is in decline. Positive indicators on US population growth, investment, innovation, higher education and entrepreneurship, point definitely the other way.
But the pace of geopolitical change in Asia is quickening.
I have no doubt that China’s re-emergence as a more active security partner will shape the future of the Asian order.
Australia is well-placed to meet these challenges. Our strategy is one of partnership, maintaining our historic alliance commitments, like ANZUS, and engaging with new centres of power in the region.
We must do so in a way that strikes the right balance between our historical ties and our Asia Pacific location.
As I said in Beijing, we see China through its long history. But in turn, Australia should be viewed through its own. In our modern history, since the end WWII , we’ve been in a strategic alliance with the US – and this is now in the Australian DNA.
We are a confident, creative, forward-leaning middle power. Alongside the region’s other rising powers, we have a critical role to play in shaping the future direction of our region.
We begin that task with some clear strengths: our growing strategic partnerships with the major powers in Asia, our 60-year alliance with the United States, and a strong sense of self-reliance.
Above all, we want a strategic order in Asia where great powers cooperate and threats to stability are minimised.
