Fed: Hill defends decision to warn Australians off Anzac Cove

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2004
Fed: Hill defends decision to warn Australians off Anzac Cove

By Maria Hawthorne

CANBERRA, April 2 AAP - Defence Minister Robert Hill today defended his decision to
go to Gallipoli for this year's Anzac Day ceremony while urging Australian travellers
to stay away from Turkey.

Thousands of young Australian backpackers make the pilgrimage to Gallipoli for Anzac
Day every year.

But in the light of last November's terrorist bombings in Istanbul, aimed at British
interests, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has for the first time warned
Australians against attending the traditional dawn service at Anzac Cove.

Senator Hill, who will represent the federal government at the ceremony, said he was
not nervous about going to Turkey.

But he said it was proper for the government to warn Australians to steer clear of
potentially dangerous areas.

"We are determined not to be cowed by terrorists," Senator Hill told reporters.

"This is an Australian celebration and commemoration, it's a very important part of
our heritage, it would only be in the most extreme circumstances that we would wish to
cancel it and on the basis of the current assessment, we believe that it should go ahead.

"The practice of recent years has been that it is led by a senior Australian minister
and we see no reason to change that for this year.

"Australians should take into account the DFAT advice and that advice is that non-essential
travel is unwise."

He rejected criticisms from travel agents who have said the government was trying to
have it both ways.

"It's not a question of being happy to go there, it's a question of what we think is
appropriate."

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said while there was no specific information about
threats, a large gathering of young Australians would be a tempting target for terrorists.

"There are terrorists operating within Turkey and so people have to be very careful
if they're considering going to Gallipoli," Mr Downer told the Nine Network.

"Bearing in mind that the Gallipoli ceremonies bring together, as the terrorists would
see it, a large number of foreigners -- Australians and New Zealanders of course particularly
-- it's potentially something that they could consider attacking.

"But remember also that there'll be substantial additional security provided there
by the Turkish authorities, by the Turkish police. So they will obviously give people
a degree of comfort."

AAP mfh/sb/drp/tnf

KEYWORD: ANZAC

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