Solomons PM wants meeting with Howard

HONIARA - The Solomon Islands government wants a one-on-one meeting between Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and his Australian counterpart John Howard to try to restore damaged relations following months of bitter diplomatic wrangling.

Solomon's Foreign Minister Patteson Oti told parliament today his office had made a formal request to Canberra through the Australian High Commission in Honiara for a meeting to be arranged.

Oti said the Solomon's government was struggling to normalise relations with its most important neighbour but Canberra had to respect Solomon's sovereignty and not dictate terms to Honiara.

Sogavare told parliament there were a number of issues his government needed to sort out with Australia to take the relationship forward.

He has been embroiled in a series of diplomatic stats with Canberra since his election last May.

Last Friday, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer accused Sogavare of trying to destroy Australian-led regional assistance mission in the Solomons and of using shameful tactics to try to taint the mission.

- AAP