7 Feb 2008

Nauru in talks with Australia over camp closure

4:23 pm on 7 February 2008

The government of Nauru has been meeting Australian government officials to determine what will happen to the detention centre's assets, following Australia's decision to close the facility.

Nauru's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Finance, Dr Kieren Keke, said this week's meetings, held at the camp, represent the first step in determining how best to alleviate the impact the closure will have on Nauru.

Senior Australian Foreign Affairs and Immigration officials, along with representatives from AusAID and the IOM, the company that has managed the centre, have been locked in talks with Dr Keke and his senior advisors.

This comes as the last batch of asylum seekers prepares to leave the island tomorrow.

Dr Keke says apart from the buildings on the site, there are many other valuable assets established over the past six years, which, if they're properly managed, can help lessen the impact of the closure of the camp on Nauruans.