Malcolm Turnbull to launch UN seat bids

The Turnbull government looks to cast off the Abbott era’s scepticism of multilateralism diplomacy.

Malcolm Turnbull’s government looks to cast off the Abbott era’s scepticism of multilateralism diplomacy in favour of a new era of internationalism.

Australia will launch a new bid for membership of the UN Security Council as the Turnbull government looks to cast off the Abbott era’s scepticism of multilateralism diplomacy in favour of a new era of internationalism.

In what amounts to Malcolm Turnbull’s first major break from the policies of his predecessor, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will today announce Australia’s candidacy for a seat on the UN Security Council. The move is one of several initiatives aimed at giving Australia’s foreign policy a more multilateral hue, with Ms Bishop also expected to announce Australia will seek a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.

The announcements came as world leaders finalised a mammoth meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York dominated by arguments over the Syrian crisis, climate change and the ­refugee crisis in Europe.

Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama traded barbs over how to handle the Syrian civil war and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine early yesterday (AEST). The Russian President, who has raised the ire of the West with Moscow’s military build-up in Syria, placed the blame for the 4½-year-old conflict at Washington’s feet. In a clear reference to the Libyan revolution and the Syrian civil war, Mr Putin said a policy of “exporting’’ democratic revolution to the Middle East and North Africa had yielded violence, destruction and a power vacuum filled by Islamic extremists.

“Rather than bringing about reforms, an aggressive interference has resulted in flagrant destruction of national institutions and the lifestyle itself,’’ he said.

In his address, delivered before Mr Putin’s, the US President ­chided Russia over its aggression in Ukraine, which had resulted in US sanctions on Moscow.

“We cannot stand by when the sovereignty and territorial ­integrity of a nation is flagrantly violated,’’ Mr Obama said.

After the UN addresses, Mr Putin and Mr Obama held their first formal talks in more than two years. While both leaders agreed on the need for a process of political transition in Syria, they “fundamentally disagreed” on the role of President Bashar al-Assad, a US official said. “We have a difference about what the outcome of that process would be,” he added.

After the talks, Mr Putin dismissed calls from the US and France for Assad to step down.

“I relate to my colleagues the American and French presidents with great respect but they aren’t citizens of Syria and so should not be involved in choosing the leadership of another country,” the Russian President said.

The war of words came as Ms Bishop revealed Australia would seek a seat on the UN Security Council for the sixth time, in 2029-30, 15 years after our most recent stint, launched by Kevin Rudd. “(The decision) is based partly on our experience as a member of the Security Council for 2013-14,’’ Ms Bishop told The Australian. “I believe we served with distinction, where we made a significant contribution on a number of global security challenges.’’

The Australian understands the Security Council bid was under consideration when Tony Abbott was prime minister, but there was said to be “resistance’’ from the former leader to the idea.

Instead, the decision was ticked off by Mr Turnbull following a “strong recommendation’’ by Ms Bishop, who also recommended Australia declare its candidacy for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council from 2018-20.

The former prime minister is understood to have regarded the Human Rights Council dubiously, due to the appalling human rights record of some of its members. Until 2011, when it was suspended, Libya was a member of the Human Rights Council. Ms Bishop acknowledged the Human Rights Council had been “discredited’’.

“But that’s no reason for a country like Australia, which has a proud international record of contributing to peace and security and stability and upholding freedoms and the rule of law and democratic institutions and human rights, shouldn’t be on the council and set a higher standard,’’ Ms Bishop said.

The Australian yesterday revealed that Britain had negotiated with Saudi Arabia to back its elevation to the Human Rights Council, despite the Middle Eastern country being one of the world’s worst violators of human rights. Australia has not held a seat on the Human Rights Council since its inception in 2006 but did so four times on its predecessor, the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Ms Bishop said bilateral diplomacy would remain the chief means through which Australia engaged with its neighbours in the region, but multilateral diplomacy — diplomacy conducted with multiple states through institutions such as the UN or APEC — was clearly set to take a more prominent role.

The Foreign Minster also offered a defence of a recently announced agreement between Iraq, Iran, Syria and Russia to share intelligence on Islamic State, also known as ISIL or Daesh. “It demonstrates a commitment on the part of various players to focus on defeating Daesh,’’ she said. “Sharing of intelligence is absolutely vital to defeating (Daesh).’’

Ms Bishop said Iran “had to be included’’ in any discussions about Syria’s future.

“The reality is that Iran is supporting the Iraqi government and the Iraqi government continues to seek their support,’’ Ms Bishop said.

“Iran is also involved in Syria and if we’re seeking to defeat ISIL or Daesh, there needs to be more co-operation among those who view it as a common enemy.’’

Ms Bishop defended the long timeframe for the new Security Council bid, saying 2029-30 was the next time there would be an uncontested vacancy in Australia’s UN grouping, the “Western European and Other’’ category. Australia was more likely to win the spot, and the cost and impact on Australia’s policy agenda would be minimal.

“We will not have to skew foreign policy in order to win votes in a short period of time,’’ Ms Bishop said. “Australia achieved a remarkable outcome by entering the race so late for 2013-14, but it meant a massive diversion of resources.”