Fed: Aust says can help in Mideast peace plan
By Linda McSweeny
CANBERRA, April 7 AAP - Australia has offered diplomatic help to Arab countries seekingMiddle East peace but is shying away from committing peacekeepers to the region.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer recently met with ambassadors from the United ArabEmirates, Egypt, Lebanon and the Palestinian representative in Canberra, Ali Kazak.
But he remains under fire from the opposition for failing to take a stand.
Mr Downer told the group Australia was prepared to play a role in peacekeeping in theMiddle East.
"Australia is happy to play a bigger role than just the role of making statements andparticipating in votes in multilateral organisations, in particular the United Nations,"
Mr Downer told ABC TV today.
He said Australia would consider requests for it to play a more active role, givenits experience in bringing peace to different parts of the Asia-Pacific region.
"We'd be happy to look at any proposals and they were going to transmit that messageback to their capital cities."
Catholic and Anglican bishops in Canberra last week urged the government to play apeacekeeping role in the Middle East.
A spokesman for Mr Downer later said participating in a peacekeeping force was notan issue on the table.
Australia could, however, provide diplomatic aid in negotiating peace.
"Mr Downer told them that if there was any proposal ... on a resolution to the crisis,whether that was a particular role for Australia to assist with, whether that was helpingwith negotiation or diplomatic presence to try to bring about resolution, that would besomething we would be happy to consider," the spokesman said.
Israel has continued with a 10-day offensive in the West Bank despite US pleas to withdraw.
Mr Downer said the Middle East situation was disturbing and he hoped a ceasefire wouldhappen soon.
It was important that the Palestinian authorities took stronger action against terroristorganisations, Mr Downer said.
And an Israeli withdrawal was fundamental to a ceasefire, he said.
"What's acceptable is when both sides agree to a ceasefire," Mr Downer said.
But opposition foreign spokesman Kevin Rudd criticised the government for failing tosupport Labor's plan for a bipartisan plea to the US to bring about a ceasefire.
"It seems that his [Mr Downer's] approach and that of the Prime Minister's when itcomes to Middle East policy is wait for the policy debate to be resolved in Washingtonfirst and then say `me too'," Mr Rudd told the Seven Network.
Considerable influence from Australia must be brought to bear, Mr Rudd said.
"I think sometimes in this country we underestimate the extent to which this country'svoice is actually listened to with respect in Washington," he said.
While European Union ministers had been calling on the US for action in the MiddleEast last week, Australia had remained mute, he said.
"Australian foreign policy is not much better than some kind of Greek chorus for Americanpolicy decisions once taken."
AAP lm/pw/sb
KEYWORD: MIDEAST AUST NIGHTLEAD
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