australians terrorism targets: white paper

  1. 2,070 Posts.
    So now Australia's foreign affairs policy focuses on "dealing with the growing strength of the European Union"?? Since when is a US economic aspiration now an Australian one? We should be catering for the EU and forget the US - they are going down HARD!!


    Australia's new foreign policy white paper predicts instability in the South Pacific for the foreseeable future, and says Australians have become the target of international terrorism.

    The policy statement says Australia has special responsibilities to the South Pacific region and stands ready to help.

    Releasing the White Paper Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the island countries are sovereign states that have to tackle their own problems.

    "In the South Pacific, Australia has a particular responsibility to help small fragile island countries deal with deep-seated problems," he said.

    "We can help effectively only if the Pacific Island countries are prepared to help themselves, we are not a neo-colonial power, we cannot impose solutions."

    The paper says Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces huge challenges, with the population due to double to 10 million people by 2025.

    The statement says HIV-AIDS is emerging as a major health and development problem for PNG.


    Terrorism

    The white paper also says Australians have become targets because of the new climate of international terrorism.

    The policy statement says Australia's vigorous participation in the war against terrorism is vital to protect the country's long-term security.

    The paper says the terrorist threat from Islamic extremists has a particular edge for Australia in South-East Asia.

    The document says the terrorists' perverse interpretation of the Muslim faith seeks to establish Taliban-style states in moderate Islamic countries.

    The white paper, replacing a 1997 document, was released in Canberra by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Trade Minister Mark Vaile.

    The policy identifies four regional themes - the abiding priority of Asia, strengthening the alliance with the United States, helping with deep-seated problems of the South Pacific and dealing with the growing strength of the European Union.
 
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