21 Sep 2004

Solomons reassured over Australia's on-going support

8:13 am on 21 September 2004

The Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Patrick Cole, has reassured the Solomons that its support will continue.

The Solomons Broadcasting Corporation reports that Mr Cole has pointed out that in its latest budget, Australia increased its bilateral aid contribution to the Solomons to almost 65-million US dollars.

This was in addition to hundreds of millions of dollars in the areas of policing, regional security and environment management.

Mr Cole says Australia will continue working with Solomon Islands in a range of development areas, including supporting the Regional Assistance Mission efforts towards economic and governmental reforms.