AUS: Letter To Yugoslav Foreign Minister

MEDIA RELEASE

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ALEXANDER DOWNER

3 August 1999

Pratt And Wallace - Letter To Yugoslav Foreign Minister

I have today written to the Yugoslav Foreign Minister, Mr Zivadin Jovanovic, calling on him to support clemency petitions for the release of jailed Australian aid workers, Steve Pratt and Peter Wallace.

This follows the decision of the Supreme Military Court on 22 July to uphold the convictions against the CARE workers. We expect the formal written decision of the Court to be delivered to the men this week.

This brings to an end proceedings in the Military Court.

Mr Pratt and Mr Wallace, their lawyers and their families will now lodge petitions seeking clemency from President Milosevic.

Since the appeal decision was handed down the Government has been seeking further support from key figures in the international community in the form of direct appeals to the Yugoslav Government for Steve Pratt and Peter Wallace's release.

The Government has been encouraged by the broad support it continues to receive on this case from a wide range of international figures and organisations.

The Government, in close consultation with CARE Australia, will continue to pursue every opportunity to secure the release of the men.

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