Editing Alexander Downer (section)

==Minister for Foreign Affairs==
[[File:Alexander Downer.jpg|thumb|right|Official portrait, 2003]]
[[Image:Downer-fischer.JPG|thumb|right|Downer with former German Foreign Minister [[Joschka Fischer]] at [[Parliament House, Canberra]], February 2005]]
[[File:Downer - Rice MG 9811 600.jpg|right|thumb|Downer with U.S. Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] in 2007.]]
Given choice of cabinet position<ref name= leave/> in the incoming [[John Howard|Howard]] government elected in March 1996, Downer became [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]], a position he held until 3 December 2007. He became the longest-serving Foreign Minister of Australia on 20 December 2004.

One of Downer's earliest initiatives as Foreign Minister was to work with [[New Zealand]] to broker a peace agreement in [[Autonomous Region of Bougainville|Bougainville]], Papua New Guinea, which ended a long running civil conflict.

In 1996, Downer took the [[Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty]] to the [[United Nations General Assembly]] where it was embraced by most members of the world body. [[Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction|Pakistan]], [[Nuclear Command Authority (India)|India]] and [[North Korea and weapons of mass destruction|North Korea]] were among those who failed to ratify the treaty and went ahead in developing nuclear weapons capability. In 1999, the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] rejected ratification of the treaty. Downer stated

{{quote|It's pretty hard to say on the one hand that we feel very strongly about Pakistani and Indian nuclear testing and on the other hand the U.S. Senate won't ratify the&nbsp;... treaty&nbsp;... The last thing the United States wants to see is a resumption of nuclear testing or the proliferation of nuclear weapons – and it is the last thing Australia wants to see. By refusing to ratify this treaty, the United States Senate has done a lot to undermine the arms control agenda that the international community, including Australia, has been working on.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acronym.org.uk/dd/dd41/41after.htm |title=Disarmament Diplomacy: Aftermath of US Senate CTBT Rejection |publisher=Acronym.org.uk |date=1 August 2002 |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref>}}

However, subsequent policies of the Howard government, including export of uranium to India, and general support for the unilateralist approach of the Bush Administration were seen as undermining the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the [[Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cnic.jp/english/topics/plutonium/proliferation/usindiafiles/ausamb1oct07.html |title=Australian Uranium Exports to India and US-India Nuclear Deal |first=Tilman |last=Ruff |type=letter |date=1 October 2007 |access-date=2008-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023115711/http://cnic.jp/english/topics/plutonium/proliferation/usindiafiles/ausamb1oct07.html |archive-date=23 October 2007}}</ref>

In 1999, Downer assisted the United Nations to hold a referendum in [[East Timor]] and in negotiating the entry of the [[INTERFET]] peace keeping force into East Timor.<ref name="BBCTimor">{{cite news |title=UN approves Timor force |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/447639.stm |work=BBC News |date=15 September 1999 |access-date= 28 August 2007}}</ref>

In 2003, [[Australian Secret Intelligence Service|ASIS]] [[Australia–East Timor spying scandal|installed listening devices]] in the Palace of Government in [[Dili]], East Timor,<ref name="SMHMarch16">{{cite news |last1=Allard |first1=Tom |title=ASIS chief Nick Warner slammed over East Timor spy scandal |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/asis-chief-nick-warner-slammed-over-east-timor-spy-scandal-20160315-gnjpne.html |access-date=31 August 2016 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 March 2016}}</ref> and later Downer signed a controversial agreement with the government of [[East Timor]] for mining of gas and [[oil reserves]] in the [[Timor Gap]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s799609.htm |work=The World Today |title=Greens & Democrats: East Timor robbed over gas deal |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> The agreement was criticised as unfair to East Timor and attracted a bipartisan letter of reproach from 50 members of the [[United States Congress]].<ref name="WorldTodayTranscript2">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s799609.htm |title=Program Transcript&nbsp;– Greens & Democrats: East Timor robbed over gas deal |access-date=28 August 2007 |date=6 March 2003 |work=The World Today&nbsp;– ABC Local Radio |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfam.org.au/what-we-do/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511173051/http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/easttimor/|url-status=dead|title=What we do |publisher=Oxfam Australia|archive-date=11 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saveeasttimor.org/ |title=Save East Timor |publisher=Save East Timor |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> The reserves were closer to East Timor than Australia but claimed by Australia on the basis of a treaty made with General [[Suharto]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/14/indonesia.australia |work=The Guardian |location=London |title=Anger in East Timor as Australia plays tough over gas reserves |first=Jonathan |last=Steele |date=14 October 2003 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>

As Minister for Foreign Affairs, Downer played a role in the diplomatic dispute known as the [[Tampa affair]] in 2001 in which Australia denied permission for the {{MV|Tampa}} to dock at [[Christmas Island]], having picked up a number of asylum seekers trying to get to Australia by boat. Downer also played a role in the subsequent negotiation of the "[[Pacific Solution]]" in which Australia held asylum seekers off-shore in foreign jurisdictions.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

In 2003, Downer was accused of not passing on intelligence reports he received before the [[2002 Bali bombings]]. He countered that the warnings were not specific enough to warrant their further release to the Australian public.<ref name="730Bali">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2003/s882970.htm |title=Program Transcript&nbsp;– Govt under fire in Bali intelligence row |access-date=30 August 2007 |date=18 June 2003 |work=[[7:30 Report]] |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205050923/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2003/s882970.htm |archive-date=5 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Downer supported Australia's participation in the [[Iraq War]]. He argued that Iraq, the Middle East and the world would be better off without the regime of [[Saddam Hussein]] and he defended the claim that [[weapons of mass destruction]] would be found in [[Iraq]].<ref name="LatelineIraqWMDs">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s870415.htm |title=Program Transcript&nbsp;– War critics call for WMD evidence |access-date=28 August 2007 |date=2 June 2003 |work=Lateline |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715063607/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s870415.htm |archive-date=15 July 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="4CornersSecretsLies">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1302767.htm |title=Program Transcript&nbsp;– Secrets and Lies |access-date=28 August 2007 |date=15 February 2005 |work=[[Four Corners (Australian TV program)|Four Corners]] |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013233325/http://abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1302767.htm |archive-date=13 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ABCNewsIraq">{{cite news |title=Wait and see on Iraqi weapons: Downer |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1031485.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=26 January 2004 |access-date =28 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040626162831/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1031485.htm |archive-date=26 June 2004}}</ref>

In August 2004, he made the claim based on official assessment reports that [[North Korea]]'s [[Taepodong-2|Taepo Dong]] ballistic missile had a range sufficient to reach Sydney, a view disputed by some.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/13/1092340463942.html?oneclick=true |title=Downer launches own missile on eve of visit to North Korea |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 August 2004 |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref>

In 2005, Australian members of the spiritual group [[Falun Gong]] launched action against Downer in the [[Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory|ACT Supreme Court]] alleging that his department had unfairly limited their freedom of expression.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1389215.htm |title=The World Today – Falun Gong launches legal action against Downer |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,18669046-7583,00.html |title=Mike Steketee: The price is rights<!-- sic --> |work=The Australian |date=12 April 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060412185054/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,18669046-7583,00.html |archive-date=12 April 2006}}</ref>

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under Downer was accused by Chinese diplomat and defector [[Chen Yonglin]] of closely collaborating with the Chinese Embassy in Canberra, even to the extent of "giving suggestions to the Chinese Government on how to handle difficult political cases". Downer was accused of pursuing an unduly strong pro-China policy and failing to address human rights violations adequately.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nationalobserver.net/2005_spring_102.htm |title=Chinese Defectors Reveal Chinese Strategy and Agents in Australia |magazine=National Observer |first=Richard |last=Bullivant |number=66 |date=Spring 2005 |pages=43–48 |access-date=13 June 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821223201/http://www.nationalobserver.net/2005_spring_102.htm |archive-date=2018-08-21}}</ref>

In March 2006, Downer said the Australian Government opposed selling uranium to India. Downer was quoted as saying "Australia had no plans to change a policy which rules out uranium sales to countries like India which have not signed the UN's [[nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]] (NPT)." Following the conclusion of the US-India nuclear agreement, the Australian Government said it would export uranium to civil nuclear facilities in India subject to several conditions, one of which was the conclusion of a bilateral safeguards agreement.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

In April 2006, he appeared before the [[Cole Inquiry]] regarding the [[AWB Oil-for-Wheat Scandal|oil for food scandal]] and testified that he was ignorant of the huge kickbacks paid to the Iraq government, despite claims by the opposition Labor Party that many warnings had been received by his department from various sources. The Cole inquiry made it clear Downer had been unaware of the kickbacks.

In July 2006, it was claimed that six months before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Downer had argued that participating in the invasion would be commercially beneficial for Australia.  Downer expressed concern that the war might lead to America taking all of Australia's wheat market.<ref name="TheAgeIraq">{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Baker |title=Australia's other war in Iraq |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/australias-other-war-in-iraq/2006/07/02/1151778811475.html |work=[[The Age]] |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=3 July 2006 |access-date=28 August 2007 |location=Melbourne}}</ref>

In August 2006, it was claimed by a former weapons inspector, Dr John Gee, that Downer had in 2004 suppressed accurate and provable information that the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was fundamentally flawed.<ref name="SMHCoverUp">{{cite news |first=Marian |last=Wilkinson |title=Weapons cover-up revealed |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/weapons-coverup-revealed/2006/08/30/1156816970606.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=31 August 2006 |access-date=28 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="SMHDownerTold">{{cite news |first=Marian |last=Wilkinson |title=Weapons: Downer admits being told |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/weapons-downer-admits-being-told/2006/08/31/1156817034562.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media |date=1 September 2006 |access-date=28 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="ABCNewsCoverUp">{{cite news|author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line --> |title=Rudd accuses Downer of WMD report cover-up |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-09-01/rudd-accuses-downer-of-wmd-report-cover-up/1252986 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=1 September 2006 |access-date=28 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208054459/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200609/s1730309.htm |archive-date=8 December 2007}}</ref><!-- Such potentially defamatory claims about people who might still be living MUST be supported with sources under [[WP:BLP]]: This claim was false.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} -->

As Foreign Minister, Downer initially supported the United States Government's incarceration of two Australian citizens, [[David Hicks]] and [[Mamdouh Habib]], in the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]].<ref name="730ReportHicks">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1428678.htm |title=Program Transcript&nbsp;– Downer backs Guantanamo military commissions |access-date=28 August 2007 |date=2 August 2005 |work=[[The 7.30 Report]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208042848/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1428678.htm |archive-date=8 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="WashingtonPost">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/31/AR2007033100279.html |title=Australian Gitmo Detainee Gets 9 Months |first=Michael |last=Melia |date=30 March 2007 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=31 March 2007}}</ref> Downer later told the US he wanted both released if they were not to be charged. On that basis, Habib was released and Hicks charged.

A major challenge for Downer was handling relations with Australia's most important neighbour, [[Indonesia]]. Downer negotiated the 2006 Lombok Treaty to put security relations between the two countries on a stable footing, built bilateral co-operation to fight terrorism, people smuggling and [[illegal fishing]]. One of the recent difficulties which erupted between Australia and Indonesia was when Australia accepted a boatload of asylum seekers from Indonesia's Papua province in March 2006.<ref name="BBCPapua">{{cite news |title=Papua refugees get Australia visa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4835788.stm |work=BBC News |date=23 March 2006 |access-date=28 August 2007}}</ref>

In September 2007, on the sidelines of the 2007 [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation|APEC Conference]] in Sydney, Downer indicated that Australia planned to launch bilateral ministerial-level security talks with the People's Republic of China. Downer also stated, "China is a good partner of Australia. Whatever the differences there are between us in terms of our political systems, human rights issues, China is a very important part of the strategic architecture, the security architecture of the Asia-Pacific region and it's important we have good forums to discuss any issues of that kind with them."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29344320070905 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711093145/https://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29344320070905 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 July 2018 |title=Australia, China to launch security talks next year |publisher=Reuters |date=5 September 2007|access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref>