6 Nov 2003

Vanuatu foreign minister considers visit to Indonesia

4:39 pm on 6 November 2003

Vanuatu's deputy prime minister, Serge Vohor, is considering an invitation to visit Indonesia early next year to discuss problems between the two countries caused by Vanuatu hosting an office of the Papua seperatist movement.

The office was set up in the Vanuatu capital and led to the Indonesian ambassador to Australia demanding an explanation of the move and threatening to downgrade diplomatic relations between Jakarta and Port Vila.

The Daily Post newspaper says the invitation, similar to one issued in October, was made by the Indonesian foreign minister when the two men met at the United Nations this week.