Gabrielle Chan theguardian.com, Thursday 16 October 2014
Deputy Labor leader responds to Abbott’s ‘shirtfront’ threat, saying Russia needs to know how seriously Australia takes the MH17 investigation
Tanya Plibersek’s call for the prime minister to choose his words more carefully is the first time Labor has departed from the Coalition on the handling of the MH17 investigation. Photograph: Daniel Munoz/AAP Image
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek has urged Tony Abbott to use more sober language after his shirtfront threat to Vladimir Putin, so that Russia can see how seriously Australia regards the MH17 crash investigation.
It is the first time Labor has departed from the Coalition on the handling of the delicate negotiations around the investigation into the shooting down of the Malaysian plane which killed 298 people, including 38 Australian citizens and residents.
Overnight a statement from the Kremlin to Guardian Australia said the Russian president was “unlikely” to seek bilateral talks with Abbott following his comments and his office would wait for a “more diplomatic and pleasant occasion” to communicate with the Australian prime minister.
Plibersek echoed the words of the Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, who said “serious politicians should choose their words” more carefully.
Plibersek said while “it was a stretch to say she agreed with the Kremlin on anything”, MH17 was a “gravely serious matter”, not just for the families and friends of the Australian victims.
“We all feel their loss and it’s important to choose language that is sober and carefully chosen,” the Labor shadow foreign spokeswoman told ABC radio.
“Many Australians will find it difficult to welcome Vladimir Putin to Australia but it’s important that we behave in a way that shows how seriously we take this matter and how soberly we expect the Russian government to deal with issues like continuing access to the crash site.”
Overnight, the president’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the Russian government did not intend to respond to Abbott’s “colourful language”, but that as a part of the G20, the Russian president was “free” to visit the summit in Brisbane.
But Peskov also said Putin had yet to confirm his visit to Australia in November even though last week Joe Hockey confirmed Putin would be coming.
“Russia is a part of G20 and the Russian president is free to visit the summit in Australia,” Peskov said.
“His visit isn’t going to be a bilateral visit upon the invitation from the Australian side.
“As soon as Mr Putin confirms his visit we’ll make a relevant statement. The Russian government does not intend to respond to Mr Abbott’s colourful language.
“Mr Putin is unlikely to seek bilateral talks with Mr Abbott. Mr Putin’s office will be waiting for more diplomatic and pleasant occasion to get in touch with Mr Abbott’s office.”
Peskov is the deputy chief of the executive office of the president of Russia and a spokesman for the president.
The statement flies in the face of Abbott’s stated expectation that Putin would agree to meet him because Australia was hosting the summit.
On Tuesday Abbott said his office had not requested a meeting with Putin as his schedule was being finalised and the summit was still a month away. However Abbott made clear his expectation Putin would meet him.
“I certainly expect that while he’s a guest of Australia, he will undertake to have a conversation with the Australian prime minister.”
