Diplomatic/official statements/notes on recognition and diplomatic relations
Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Is it possible to provide, to extent possible subject to necessary redactions or omissions,
copy of formal diplomatic or other statements or notes, which relate to Australia's recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations, that were exchanged between the government of Australia and:
- Montenegro (around 2006)
- Kosovo (around 2008)
- South Sudan (around 2011)
Thank you
Yours faithfully,
Tyler
OFFICIAL
FOI Reference: LEX 11568
Dear Tyler
We are writing to you to seek your agreement to providing the department
with an extension of 30 calendar days to process your FOI request in
accordance with section 15AA of the FOI Act. This would mean that a
decision would then be due to you by 11 November.
Background
The area in the department with responsibility for Africa, also has
responsibility for the Middle East. Officers that would normally be
responsible for responding to FOI requests are currently fully engaged on
responding to developments in the region, and as a result the processing
of FOI requests that require their involvement are delayed.
While this extension request is for 30 days, I hope to have a response to
you as soon as possible. The reason for requesting 30 days, it to give the
greatest level of flexibility possible to officers currently involved in
crisis response.
We have also had some difficulty in completing searches, given the age of
some of the documents, this additional time will enable the department to
finalise its processes and provide you with an outcome.
Please be assured that we will continue to process your request as quickly
as possible and will provide an outcome to you as soon as it is
available.
Timeframe
We would be grateful if you could please reply to our request by COB 10
October 2024.
If we do not hear from you, we may apply to the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner for an extension to the statutory timeframe.
Should you have any questions, please to contact us by reply email.
Kind regards
Daniel
_______________________________
FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section (FOI)
Public Interest Law Branch (PIL) | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division
(RLD)
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-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12042 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 3:03 PM
To: FOI FOI <[DFAT request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Freedom of Information request - Diplomatic/official
statements/notes on recognition and diplomatic relations
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organisation. Do not click
links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender.
Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Is it possible to provide, to extent possible subject to necessary
redactions or omissions,
copy of formal diplomatic or other statements or notes, which relate to
Australia's recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations, that
were exchanged between the government of Australia and:
- Montenegro (around 2006)
- Kosovo (around 2008)
- South Sudan (around 2011)
Thank you
Yours faithfully,
Tyler
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Dear FOI,
I agree to your suggestion to extend the deadline to until 11 November 2024.
Yours faithfully,
Tyler
OFFICIAL
FOI Reference: LEX 11568
Dear Tyler,
The department is soon to finalise a decision in this matter.
Initial searches have identified documents relevant to South Sudan, but
have been unable to locate files relevant to the establishment of
diplomatic relations with Kosovo or Serbia.
In order to assist you, we would be grateful if you would amend the scope
of this request to exclude documents relevant to Kosovo and Serbia, and
submit a fresh request regarding those countries.
The department will conduct additional searches of our historical files,
with the intention of identifying documents relevant to Kosovo and Serbia.
This would involve amending your request to read:
Cop[ies] of formal diplomatic or other statements or notes, which
relate to Australia's recognition and establishment of diplomatic
relations, that were exchanged between the government of Australia and:
- South Sudan (around 2011)
If you do not wish to agree to this approach, the department will apply
for a section 15AB extension from the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner to extend the time to make a decision, on the basis of
conclusively searching physical files held by the department’s Historical
Records Section. While FOI Applicants do not have the authority to extend
the time to make a decision under section 15AB we would be grateful for an
indication if you would support this approach?
An amendment to the scope of this request is preferrable as we will be
able to provide you with the documents relevant to South Sudan by the
current date for a decision (11 November 2024). An extension under
section 15AB if granted by OAIC, would delay the release of those
documents, as the department is legislatively unable make decisions on
individual parts of requests.
Kind Regards
Daniel
-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12042 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2024 3:45 PM
To: FOI FOI <[DFAT request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Your FOI request – Request for additional time
(LEX 11568) [SEC=OFFICIAL]
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organisation. Do not click
links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender.
Dear FOI,
I agree to your suggestion to extend the deadline to until 11 November
2024.
Yours faithfully,
Tyler
-----Original Message-----
OFFICIAL
FOI Reference: LEX 11568
Dear Tyler
We are writing to you to seek your agreement to providing the department
with an extension of 30 calendar days to process your FOI request in
accordance with section 15AA of the FOI Act. This would mean that a
decision would then be due to you by 11 November.
Background
The area in the department with responsibility for Africa, also has
responsibility for the Middle East. Officers that would normally be
responsible for responding to FOI requests are currently fully engaged on
responding to developments in the region, and as a result the processing
of FOI requests that require their involvement are delayed.
While this extension request is for 30 days, I hope to have a response to
you as soon as possible. The reason for requesting 30 days, it to give the
greatest level of flexibility possible to officers currently involved in
crisis response.
We have also had some difficulty in completing searches, given the age of
some of the documents, this additional time will enable the department to
finalise its processes and provide you with an outcome.
Please be assured that we will continue to process your request as quickly
as possible and will provide an outcome to you as soon as it is
available.
Timeframe
We would be grateful if you could please reply to our request by COB 10
October 2024.
If we do not hear from you, we may apply to the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner for an extension to the statutory timeframe.
Should you have any questions, please to contact us by reply email.
Kind regards
Daniel
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[1][FOI #12042 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[2]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #12042 email]
2. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Dear FOI,
I note your advice to make separate requests for separate places. As such, I will make separate requests for Kosovo and Montenegro.
I will amend my present request to read as follows:
cop[ies] of formal diplomatic or other statements or notes, which relate to Australia's recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations, that were exchanged between the government of Australia and South Sudan (around 2011)
When will the copies or decision be available for the present request?
Thank you
Yours faithfully,
Tyler
OFFICIAL
FOI Request: LEX 11568
Dear Tyler,
Please find attached a letter notifying you of the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade’s decision on your FOI request, together with the
documents released to you.
Kind regards
Daniel
_______________________________
FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section (FOI)
Public Interest Law Branch (PIL) | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division
(RLD)
This email and any attachments may contain confidential information or
legal advice over which legal professional privilege can be claimed. Such
privilege is not waived and you should ensure that, in your handling of
the advice, you avoid waiving privilege. Please consult the author of the
advice if unsure about appropriate handling.
-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12042 email]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 7:30 PM
To: FOI FOI <[DFAT request email]>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Your FOI request – Request for additional time
(LEX 11568) [SEC=OFFICIAL]
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organisation. Do not click
links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender.
Dear FOI,
I note your advice to make separate requests for separate places. As such,
I will make separate requests for Kosovo and Montenegro.
I will amend my present request to read as follows:
cop[ies] of formal diplomatic or other statements or notes, which relate
to Australia's recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations, that
were exchanged between the government of Australia and South Sudan (around
2011)
When will the copies or decision be available for the present request?
Thank you
Yours faithfully,
Tyler
-----Original Message-----
OFFICIAL
FOI Reference: LEX 11568
Dear Tyler,
The department is soon to finalise a decision in this matter.
Initial searches have identified documents relevant to South Sudan, but
have been unable to locate files relevant to the establishment of
diplomatic relations with Kosovo or Serbia.
In order to assist you, we would be grateful if you would amend the scope
of this request to exclude documents relevant to Kosovo and Serbia, and
submit a fresh request regarding those countries.
The department will conduct additional searches of our historical files,
with the intention of identifying documents relevant to Kosovo and Serbia.
This would involve amending your request to read:
Cop[ies] of formal diplomatic or other statements or notes, which
relate to Australia's recognition and establishment of diplomatic
relations, that were exchanged between the government of Australia and:
- South Sudan (around 2011)
If you do not wish to agree to this approach, the department will apply
for a section 15AB extension from the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner to extend the time to make a decision, on the basis of
conclusively searching physical files held by the department’s Historical
Records Section. While FOI Applicants do not have the authority to extend
the time to make a decision under section 15AB we would be grateful for an
indication if you would support this approach?
An amendment to the scope of this request is preferrable as we will be
able to provide you with the documents relevant to South Sudan by the
current date for a decision (11 November 2024). An extension under
section 15AB if granted by OAIC, would delay the release of those
documents, as the department is legislatively unable make decisions on
individual parts of requests.
Kind Regards
Daniel
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[1][FOI #12042 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[2]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #12042 email]
2. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...