UN approval sought for Solomons action

By FRAN O'SULLIVAN

The United Nations Security Council will soon be asked to approve a President's Statement endorsing the Anzac military deployment to the troubled Solomon Islands.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said the French-led initiative would put an end to some "concerns and misinformation" that the deployment was similar to the invasion of Iraq.

If the statement was strongly endorsed it should help clear the way for the Council of the European Union to release funds to strengthen the governance of the islands.

But it would need China's support for the statement to gain overwhelming support at Security Council level.

Mr Goff said despite clear approval by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the Anzac troops and police, the issue was not clearly understood in Europe.

The French offer was first raised at a meeting French President Jacques Chirac hosted for Pacific leaders last month at which a Solomon Islands politician spoke in favour of the Australasian deployment.

"France offered to do that in the context of a discussion that we had in Papeete considering the Solomon Islands," said Mr Goff.

"Chirac, who has obviously made a big thing about multilateral action in regard to Iraq, felt much more confident about what was happening and the correctness of that.

"What will determine the EU's response will be the effectiveness of providing aid in this environment when under the old way there had been a degree of futility about it."

French sources suggested that the Solomon Islands might ultimately be able to draw support from a €60 million ($114 million) fund - if the council gives its approval.

China's Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zhou Wengzhong, told a Pacific Islands post-forum meeting yesterday that "serious consideration" would be given to a request to support the initiative.

At a later news conference Mr Zhou said no view had been formed yet. "We understand their position and we are studying it very carefully."

But in an earlier Herald interview, Mr Zhou pointed out some difficulties over the Solomons' recognition of Taiwan. "The Solomon Islands co-sponsored the draft resolution inviting Taiwan to return to the United Nations," he said.

"I think this is ridiculous and they are wasting other people's time because this issue has long been resolved."

Mr Goff said the Solomons' decision would not have endeared it to the People's Republic of China.

"But China went further than it had to date by saying it supported the actions of Australia and New Zealand to restore law and order, and by saying they would consider the statement while raising concerns about it.

"I think there is a greater likelihood that a presidential statement could be made without any member country speaking out strongly against that happening."