Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Gordon Lilo Darcy says his country is not interested in being part of the Australian Government's 'Pacific Solution' for asylum seekers.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has confirmed his country is not interested in being part of the Australian Government's new 'Pacific Solution' for processing and resettling asylum seekers.
The leaders of Papua New Guinea and Nauru have recently signed agreements with Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to resettle some asylum seekers found to be refugees.
But Mr Lilo says his country's complicated land ownership status, and strong sense of community following years of ethnic tension means he wasn't prepared to part of Australia's plans.
"We have just come out of the situation that we've gone through and it's quite risky for our country to just accept the proposal as it is," he told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat.
Mr Lilo says it's clear asylum seekers don't want to come to his country.
"We have to respect the choice of asylum seekers, and the choices that these people have made is that they want to come to Australia."
He says an informal request was made by diplomats on behalf of Mr Rudd.
"The prime minister sent the message; basically whether or not Solomon Islands is prepared to be part of the Pacific Solution.
"We basically said no, it's a proposal that cannot be considered at this point in time."