VOA常速英语2008年-Australia Moves to Improve Ties With South Paci

Demonstrators in Papua New Guinea tried to disrupt a visit by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Landowners staged protests as part of a dispute over proposed mining of the Kokoda Track, a trail where Australian forces fought Japanese troops during the Second World War. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

Australia's new prime minister was greeted on his first visit to Papua New Guinea by landowners living along the Kokoda Track, who staged a noisy protest against Australia's opposition¹ to mining in the area.

The trail was the site of a series of battles between Australian and Japanese forces in 1942.

The Kokoda Track is a revered² part of Australia's military history and Canberra wants it given World Heritage protection.

Villagers, though, want sections of the rugged³ path to be mined for copper⁴ and gold. They stand to make a fortune if permission is granted, something Kevin Rudd has opposed.

Mr. Rudd, a former diplomat⁵, has needed great tact⁶ during his visit to Papua New Guinea.

Relations between Australia and its former colony and nearest neighbor have been sensitive in recent years. The former Australian prime minister, John Howard, rarely saw eye-to-eye with officials in Port Moresby. Mr. Howard became increasingly frustrated⁷ at what he saw as a lack of action to combat corruption⁸ in Papua New Guinea.

Mr. Rudd hopes his visit will be the beginning of more harmonious⁹ times.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare says it is time for a fresh start.

"The relationship was more or less deteriorated¹⁰ for a little while because of what transpired¹¹ at the time," he explained. "There was no common understanding, mutual¹² understanding between the differences that we have and the differences the previous Australian governments have. But it's all water under the bridge."

The environment will be a focus of discussions during Mr. Rudd's visit, especially problems with mining and forestry¹³ operations.

The two countries have agreed to safeguard vast areas of tropical rainforest and to monitor logging in Papua New Guinea.

"We've outlined a new framework to work together on this," Mr. Rudd said. "A regular dialogue on how we can advance this agenda within the international forums¹⁴ of the world. Secondly¹⁵, an Australian offer for technical assistance when it comes to the satellite based monitoring of the extent of forestry coverage¹⁶."

Most people in Papua New Guinea live a subsistence lifestyle in remote areas. HIV and AIDS are serious problems, along with gang violence and official corruption.

Mr. Rudd next visits another of Australia's small South Pacific neighbors, the Solomon Islands.

Australia led a multinational¹⁷ peacekeeping force into the archipelago in 2003 to end years of ethnic¹⁸ fighting.

Canberra says its intervention¹⁹ was intended to make sure political instability did not allow its neighbors to become havens²⁰ for extremists and criminals.