Fed: Downer plays down East Timor role in Tampa crisis

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2001
Fed: Downer plays down East Timor role in Tampa crisis

By Steve Larkin

ADELAIDE, Aug 31 AAP - It was unlikely that 460 asylum seekers on board a Norwegian
freighter off Christmas Island would be processed by the United Nations in East Timor,
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

Mr Downer said Australia had been in talks with several countries including Norway,
New Zealand, Indonesia and East Timor over the situation involving the MS Tampa.

But he said it was unlikely that East Timor would be involved in any solution to the
crisis because there was no formal government in place.

"It would be a gross overstatement for there to be a focus on East Timor," Mr Downer
told journalists.

"We are having discussions with a number of countries.

"It's much less likely to be East Timor than somewhere else."

Mr Downer said discussion with Norway were progressing well now after some initial difficulties.

"We've had some good discussions with the Norwegians," he said.

"There was an acrimonious relationship initially and that has become more co-operative
and constructive."

Mr Downer said he would be having further discussions with Indonesia and Norway this afternoon.

Next week he and Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock would go to Jakarta for talks
with officials, he said.

AAP sl/mo/jc

KEYWORD: BOAT TIMOR DOWNER LEAD

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