Nauru welcomes 'em with open pockets

LONDON, SEPT. 3. The offer by the tiny island of Nauru to take 310 of the 460 Afghan refugees stranded on Tampa has less to do with humanitarianism and more to do with financial desperation.

The former British colony, the world's smallest republic, is close to bankruptcy and on international credit and money- laundering blacklists.

Mr. Rene Namaduk, Minister for Education and Transport, said on Saturday the island's offer to help depended on the island receiving the right kind of assistance from the international community. ``Following Australia's approach, we have agreed to help in principle but that offer can be withdrawn if we think it is unworkable,'' he said. ``Given the enormous problems we have on the island, we would expect a great deal of help from the international community. We offered to help as a humanitarian gesture because Nauru is a friend to the world, but obviously as discussions progress we are becoming aware of the financial and diplomatic implications. We have pressing problems of our own that need to be dealt with if we are going to look after these people properly.''

One senior official said: ``It is not a question of something for nothing. Obviously, the island will expect the international community to help it financially in the way it has stepped in to help the refugees. Nauru is always on the look-out for more aid from Australia.'' Nauru's financial situation has become so bad that the national airline has been forced to sell seven of its eight carriers.

The remaining aircraft is relied on for all international services. The OECD has placed the island on the blacklist and the country's London consulate was also sold to help pay debts.

Electricity is rationed to two hours a day and civilian islanders have no access to fuel. In the past week, all domestic telephones were cut off after the country failed to pay the Australian company that runs the island's telecommunications.

- FTelegraph Group Limited, London, 2001

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Section  : International
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