Downer expresses 'outrage' to Solomons counterpart during talks in New York

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has met with his counterpart from the Solomon Islands and discussed the diplomatic row between the two countries.
Alexander Downer: we were outraged about the expulsion of our High Commissioner, it was quite the wrong thing to do.

Australia's High Commissioner was expelled from the Solomons and Australia has hit back with changes to visa arrangements.

Mr Downer held talks with the Solomons' Foreign Minister Patteson Oti in New York.

Mr Downer has told Australian media that he expressed Australia's anger and argued against any changes to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

"I made a couple of points to him," he said.

"First of all I explained what we've said already, we were outraged about the expulsion of our High Commissioner, it was quite the wrong thing to do.

"But secondly, that RAMSI is an integrated package, and we're not going to have RAMSI salami sliced or neutered in anyway."

Source: ABC News