Joint Solomon Islands Australian High Commission Statement

14 February 2011

The Office of the Prime Minister has authorised the release of the following Press Statement.

Joint Press Statement by the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, the Hon Danny Philip, and the Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Mr Frank Ingruber

Following positive and constructive talks on 10 February between Prime Minister the Hon Danny Philip, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, the Hon Peter Shanel, and the Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Frank Ingruber, it was agreed to put recent events behind them and to concentrate on progressing their important common agenda of promoting stability, economic development and the welfare of all Solomon Islanders.

The Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, the Hon Richard Marles MP and the High Commissioner had made clear that the allegations against Australia and RAMSI have no basis in fact. Australia does not seek to interfere in Solomon Islands’ political affairs and remains committed to working closely and effectively with the Solomon Islands Government.

The Solomon Islands Government agreed that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations contained in the unauthorised ‘intelligence report’, on which recent media reports had been based.

It had therefore been mutually agreed to move on and to focus on the issues of substance in the bilateral relationship.

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