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AFP
DILI — East Timor said Tuesday it is still waiting for details from Australia about a proposal to build a regional detention centre in the tiny country to host Australia-bound asylum seekers.
Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa said Canberra had yet to clarify its position three weeks after Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard revealed surprise plans to ship asylum-seekers to impoverished East Timor.
The proposal, seen as a bid to strengthen Gillard's credentials on immigration and border security ahead of August 21 polls, has been slated by East Timorese lawmakers but the country's leaders have not ruled it out.
"So far we haven't received any concrete proposal from Australia. We haven't said anything to them," da Costa told reporters after a meeting in Dili with his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa.
"Our position remains the same, that Australia, Timor-Leste and other countries in the region have to consider this issue through an appropriate forum."
Australia's foreign minister held talks in Indonesia on July 15 to try to muster regional support for the initiative.
But Natalegawa said more discussions were needed.
"We need to have more conversation, to be better informed, to be better appreciated," he said.
Copyright © 2010 AFP.
.
AFP
DILI — East Timor said Tuesday it is still waiting for details from Australia about a proposal to build a regional detention centre in the tiny country to host Australia-bound asylum seekers.
Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa said Canberra had yet to clarify its position three weeks after Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard revealed surprise plans to ship asylum-seekers to impoverished East Timor.
The proposal, seen as a bid to strengthen Gillard's credentials on immigration and border security ahead of August 21 polls, has been slated by East Timorese lawmakers but the country's leaders have not ruled it out.
"So far we haven't received any concrete proposal from Australia. We haven't said anything to them," da Costa told reporters after a meeting in Dili with his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa.
"Our position remains the same, that Australia, Timor-Leste and other countries in the region have to consider this issue through an appropriate forum."
Australia's foreign minister held talks in Indonesia on July 15 to try to muster regional support for the initiative.
But Natalegawa said more discussions were needed.
"We need to have more conversation, to be better informed, to be better appreciated," he said.
Copyright © 2010 AFP.
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