PNG: Signs of improving relations with Australia
Updated
While it's a long way from being back to normal, there appears to an improvement in the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Since PNG gained independence in 1975 the relationship between the two countries has often been rocky with he latest spat over the Julian Moti affair especially heated.
Presenter: Campbell Cooney
Speakers: Sir Michael Somare, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
COONEY: Last week, at the Pacific Island Forum Leader's Meeting in Tonga, when Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, spoke to the media about the outcomes of the meeting, in particular Fiji's commitment to hold elections in March 2009, he added this commendation.
DOWNER: I've paid by the way particular tribute to Sir Michael Somare who's been very helpful in all of this.
COONEY: It's only a few words.
But it signals an improvement in the relationship between the two countries after a year of diplomatic tit for tat.
Last September Australian lawyer, and now Solomon Islands' Attorney General, Julian Moti was arrested in Papua New Guinea by Australian Police on child sex charges, alledgedly committed in Vanuatu in 1997.
Shortly after his release on bail Mr Moti was illegally flown to Solomon Islands aboard a PNG Defence Force aircraft.
Earlier this year an inquiry was held into the flight.
Despite efforts by Sir Michael to have it disbanded, it completed its hearings and submitted its report.
But the Prime Minister took legal action to have it declared null and void, saying it makes untrue allegtions about him.
That action was dismissed, and much of the detail of the report has been made public in Papua New Guinea.
But Sir Michael's lawyers have appealed that decision.
All this means the Moti report hasn't been tabled in PNG's parliament, and there is no indication when, or if, it will be.
In response to Mr Moti's escape, Australia has suspended its annual bilateral trade and ministerial talks with PNG and put travel restrictions on members of its Government.
The Australian government's repeatedly said, once the Moti Report is tabled, the relationship will go back to normal.
On that front nothing's really changed.
But it appears both governments used the leaders meetings in Tonga to smooth things over, at least in part.
I spoke to Sir Michael Somare after the leaders retreat on the island of Vava'u about his talks with Mr Downer.
SOMARE: Well we had our differences, there are standpoints that we have to make. I didn't agree with the arrest of Mr Moti and I said I think all of us have breached our rules and regulations in dealing with a sovereign nation. Sovereign nation is different, I can't go to Australia and breach the rules, Moti came through our international transit and under the international convention you don't do any arrest. And I pointed out to him that your officers used our officers to go and do the arrest and that's very unfair, unfair of you. I said I'm not here to talk about who is a criminal, I'm talking about the principles of law and regulations in each one of our countries. So we were able to and I said that we should be able to sit down and sort this thing out.
COONEY: For both Australia and Papua New Guinea the political reality appears to be the relationship must get back on track.
PNG is the biggest recipient in the Pacific of Australian aid.
As well Australian business has a large presence in its closest neighbour.
When they go to the polls in late November, Australians will choose who will be their next prime minister and ruling political party, for the next three years.
Whoever it is, it's likely they will be dealing with Sir Michael, for at least the foreseeable future.
In August he garnered enough support to form PNG's government for a second five year term, having just completed a full electoral term, the first PNG Prime Minister since independance in 1975, to do so.
For his part Sir Michael seems philosphical about the Moti affair, saying it's not the first time in his long political career he been in furious disagreemeent with PNG's former colonial masters.
SOMARE: I've dealt with all the Australian prime ministers for the last 40 years that I've been in politics and all the Australian foreign ministers. I've never had this type of hassle and this ... but we've now sorted out and I'm sure that he's happy and if he's not happy he can talk to me about it later.
