- Gallipoli roadworks not our idea: Howard -
18.04.2005 00:10:54
Roadworks that have damaged parts of Anzac Cove had not been requested by the Australian government, Prime Minister John Howard said.
Mr Howard, who will travel to Turkey for celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the Gallipoli Landing, released documents to show that former Veterans Affairs Minister Dana Vale had asked the roadworks be considered.
But Mr Howard said the work that she had sought was between Chunuk Bair (where the New Zealand National Memorial stands) and the Kemalyeri Memorial, not at Anzac Cove.
He said the stretch where she wanted work completed had since been resealed.
"While it is common ground between Australia and Turkey, that some reinforcement and improvement of the Anzac Cove road was needed, I feel I should put it on record that works of the scale that have actually taken place were not sought by the Australian government," he said.
Mr Howard said he had been prompted to release the letter from Mrs Vale to the Turkish government because of unfair allegations that the government was somehow responsible for what had happened at Anzac Cove.
Labor has claimed that the government had known for about two years that roadworks would damage the sacred Anzac Cove sites.
"I think the allegation that anybody in the government is responsible for the desecration of the site is wrong and unfair and I reject it," Mr Howard said.
Mr Howard said he was not trying to blame the Turkish government as both countries had agreed that work needed to be done near Anzac Cove for safety and security reasons.
The prime minister also rejected media reports that VIP carparks had been built at Gallipoli.
"The Turkish government is working conscientiously to facilitate access by the general public to locations of great significance and in that spirit is building a small number of carparks near certain sites."
"The Turkish authorities might, on certain special occasions, including Anzac Day, dedicate a portion of one or more of these carparks to VIPs from Turkey and a range of other countries," he said.
"But the main purpose is to allow access by people of all nationalities to these places of great historical importance."
Mr Howard will talk to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan about the conservation and preservation of Gallipoli when they meet next week.
"I will be discussing these important issues further directly with him on Tuesday in Istanbul," Mr Howard said.
acknowledge:
by Ninemsn
http://news.ninemsn.com.au
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