5 Feb 2007

Solomons foreign minister to report to parliament on diplomatic row with Australia

10:44 am on 5 February 2007

Solomon Islands Foreign Minister, Patteson Oti will be updating the nation in parliament this week on the latest in the diplomatic row between Honiara and Canberra.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare assured Parliament last Friday that Mr Oti has beeb given the task of clearing the air in the ongoing stand-off between Honiara and Canberra.

The Sogavare led Grand Coalition for Change Government has been at odds with Australia since it expelled Australian diplomat, Patrick Cole and banned Australian Police Commissioner, Shane Castles from returning to Honiara.

Last week Mr Oti travelled to Papua New Guinea to block PNG's Board of Inquiry from entering Solomon Islands.

The Defence Force Board of Inquiry wanted to visit Munda airport where a PNG military aircraft landed Julian Moti on October .

It also wanted to interview Mr Moti and other locals about the flight.