Mini-Pacific summit likely to mull regional security

Australia's Howard is hosting a summit with leaders from three other Pacific nations

September 28, 2000
Web posted at: 9:59 AM HKT (0159 GMT)

CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) -- Pacific leaders meeting in Sydney on Thursday are expected to discuss rising security concerns in Solomon Islands and Fiji and calls for independence for the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya, Australian radio said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard was hosting talks with the premiers of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Vanuatu, one month ahead of the annual South Pacific Forum being held in Kiribati.

The four prime ministers were likely to discuss joint ways to resolve a two-year ethnic conflict in the Solomon Islands in which 70 people have died and the situation in Fiji in the wake of a coup led by George Speight in the name of indigenous Fijians.

But the Australian Broadcasting Corp said more controversial would be Vanuatu Prime Minister Barak Sope's call for the United Nations to consider the issue of independence for Irian Jaya, a position opposed by Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

Morauta has said he would use the opportunity to underline Papua New Guinea's view that mineral-rich West Papua or Irian Jaya is an integral part of Indonesia.

A low-level separatist insurgency has simmered for decades in Indonesia's easternmost province which covers the western half of New Guinea island while Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half.

Calls for independence have mounted since another Indonesian province, East Timor, voted for independence from Jakarta last year and clashes between security forces and civilians demanding independence are quite common.

A proposed A$6 billion gas pipeline linking Papua New Guinea with Australia was also expected to be raised.

Morauta has made the A$6 billion project a key priority of a far-reaching economic reform program for Papua New Guinea.

Final financial and commercial clearance for the pipeline is awaiting approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission monopoly watchdog,

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark was expected to raise the idea of a common Australia-New Zealand currency although she said earlier this month a union was not on the formal agenda.

The idea of a currency union with Australia is popular in New Zealand where the local dollar is worth only around US$0.42.

The Australian dollar fetches about US$0.55.

Australian Treasurer Peter Costello has said Australia would only consider a union where New Zealand takes on the Australian dollar and would not consider a common currency.

Clark may also raise the prospects of merging the Australian and New Zealand economies with those of South-East Asia through the proposed ASEAN Free Trade Area.

A trade ministers' meeting in Thailand next week was expected to receive a report recommending the go-ahead for the combined free trade area.

A spokeswoman for Howard confirmed the meetings, which will take place at Howard's Kirribili House residence, but declined to comment on the issues on the agenda.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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