Australia Min: Continuing Discussions With Indonesia On Asylum
Seekers
SINGAPORE -(Dow Jones)- Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said that he
will meet with his Indonesian counterpart in Singapore later Tuesday to discuss
the standoff over Sri Lankan asylum seekers anchored in Indonesian waters.
Smith is in Singapore for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
He also said he would expect diplomatic clearance for the vessel the asylum
seekers are on to be extended.
"If the matter is not resolved by Friday we fully expect that the diplomatic
clearance for the Oceanic Viking will again be extended--we regard that very
much as an administrative matter," Smith said.
"We continue to want to get a successful outcome where the people on board
calmly and peacefully come off the boat to enable their processing in Indonesia
by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees."
-By Sam Holmes, Dow Jones Newswires; +65-6415-4157; samuel.holmes@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
11-10-090439ET
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