Abu Dhabi: John Howard, the former Prime Minister of Australia hailed the relationship between the UAE and Australia on Tuesday night. He condemned the barbarism unleashed by Daesh in Syria and Iraq and favoured a two-state solution to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Delivering a lecture at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research on current socio-political developments in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi, Howard said it would not be possible for countries to cooperate with the Syrian regime to defeat Daesh.
“It would be morally unacceptable to cooperate with the Syrian government.”
He said the fact nations were coming together to challenge the threat of extremism, savagery, and brutality practised by Daesh gave some hope and optimism.
“Previous administrations in Iraq practised a sectarian approach that caused the problem.
He said “it wasn’t an inclusive approach” and all elements — the majority Shiite population and Sunni and Kurdish elements were not embraced equally
He said Australia is concerned about what has happened in Syria and Iraq.
“We have committed our forces and made a commitment to become involved. We have an interest like many other countries in minimising the likelihood of citizens participating in barbarism and behaviour practised by Daesh and returning radicalised to indulge in terrorist activities.”
He said military activity can never provide a long-term solution and a long-term solution must be found within the domestic politics of the countries.
On the Israel-Palestinian conflict he said solving the issue was crucial for longer term prospects for stability.
“This dispute is decades old. There should be a two-state solution. There should be negotiation.”
He commended the UAE government for making a remarkable recovery from the global financial crisis of 2008 and investing in infrastructure and creating other facilities.
Howard was the Prime Minister of Australia between 1996 and 2007. He has been Australia’s second longest serving prime minister. He was a member of the House of Representatives for 33 years.
He was awarded the America’s highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President George W Bush. In 2012 Queen Elizabeth II appointed him as member of the Order of Merit.
His autobiography Lazarus Rising, which was published in October 2010, became the best-selling political memoir in Australian history.
