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| Tony Abbott offers US ‘diplomatic and political support’ on Syria | Tony Abbott offers US ‘diplomatic and political support’ on Syria |
| (6 days later) | |
| Tony Abbott has told Barack Obama that Australia would welcome an outcome in Syria that did not include military force – but he has signalled that Australia will support the US whatever the final decision. | Tony Abbott has told Barack Obama that Australia would welcome an outcome in Syria that did not include military force – but he has signalled that Australia will support the US whatever the final decision. |
| The US president phoned the Australian prime minister elect on Thursday morning to congratulate him on his weekend election win. As part of his transition to government, Abbott also spoke overnight to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and on Wednesday to the Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa. | The US president phoned the Australian prime minister elect on Thursday morning to congratulate him on his weekend election win. As part of his transition to government, Abbott also spoke overnight to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and on Wednesday to the Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa. |
| Abbott and Obama discussed Syria during their telephone conversation. After threatening the Assad regime with military strikes, the US has now executed a pivot towards finding a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis. The White House has welcomed a Russian proposal to secure the handover of chemical weapons ahead of talks in Geneva later this week – although military strikes remain a possibility. | Abbott and Obama discussed Syria during their telephone conversation. After threatening the Assad regime with military strikes, the US has now executed a pivot towards finding a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis. The White House has welcomed a Russian proposal to secure the handover of chemical weapons ahead of talks in Geneva later this week – although military strikes remain a possibility. |
| Abbott commended Obama during his conversation on a “fine speech” on Wednesday on Syria. On the matter of military intervention, Abbott said, according to a spokesman: “If it was possible to chastise the Syrians without force, that would be welcome, but if other means are necessary the US would have Australia’s strong diplomatic and political support.” | Abbott commended Obama during his conversation on a “fine speech” on Wednesday on Syria. On the matter of military intervention, Abbott said, according to a spokesman: “If it was possible to chastise the Syrians without force, that would be welcome, but if other means are necessary the US would have Australia’s strong diplomatic and political support.” |
| According to the spokesman for Abbott, the prime minister elect told Obama during their conversation that “America remains Australia's greatest friend”. | According to the spokesman for Abbott, the prime minister elect told Obama during their conversation that “America remains Australia's greatest friend”. |
| Abbott said he was looking forward to catching up with the president at the upcoming APEC and East Asia Summit leaders' meetings next month. The two leaders also discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership – an agreement intended to be a regional building block for economic integration. Abbott told the president “he looked forward to working co-operatively on it with the region”. | Abbott said he was looking forward to catching up with the president at the upcoming APEC and East Asia Summit leaders' meetings next month. The two leaders also discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership – an agreement intended to be a regional building block for economic integration. Abbott told the president “he looked forward to working co-operatively on it with the region”. |
| The US secretary of state, John Kerry, also telephoned the incoming foreign minister, Julie Bishop, this morning. | The US secretary of state, John Kerry, also telephoned the incoming foreign minister, Julie Bishop, this morning. |
| “It was a productive discussion on Syria and the Asia-Pacific. They agreed to meet during leaders’ week at the United Nations in mid-September,” Abbott’s spokesman said. | “It was a productive discussion on Syria and the Asia-Pacific. They agreed to meet during leaders’ week at the United Nations in mid-September,” Abbott’s spokesman said. |
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