Australia eases ban on bilateral talks

SYDNEY, Dec 1 (PTI) — The Australian Government has partially lifted the sanctions imposed on India following its May nuclear tests by easing ban on ministerial and senior officials' visits between the two countries, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

However, the indefinite ban on non-humanitarian aids to India and Pakistan and suspension of all defence relations will continue as Australia remained strongly opposed to nuclear tests by the two countries and was deeply concerned about the implications of these actions.

He said the Australian Government’s decision followed the "recent positive gestures by the two countries towards nuclear non-proliferation and the resumption of bilateral dialogue."

Following a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade review of the sanctions, the government had decided to relax the measures and resume ministerial and senior official visits between the two countries "allowing for high-level bilateral dialogue on a whole range of issues."

Following the partial lifting of the sanctions, Australian Health Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge would be visiting India next week to attend a UN conference.

The official told PTI that Australia wanted both India and Pakistan to immediately sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

The relaxing of measures follows several calls by the business community, intellectuals and an Australian Parliamentary Committee to resume dialogue with New Delhi in a bid to advance Australian commercial interests, especially in view of the growing strategic and economic importance of India in global and regional affairs.

Australia was the only country to disengage from India and withdraw its diplomatic staff in protest against the tests. Over the recent months the Australian Government has found itself increasingly isolated with other developed countries, including the USA and the UK engaging in political dialogues.

A diplomatic source said that Australia was "compelled to make the move" as it felt "left out" with delegations from other countries visiting India."

Ironically, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $ 2.54 billion in 1997-98, posting a 23 per cent rise over 1996-97.