Angelina Jolie accepts invitation to visit Nauru

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Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00

Written by SMH

           International film star Angelina Jolie has accepted an offer to visit Nauru, according to reports.The invitation followed Jolie’s meeting with Nauru's President Baron Waqa at a global summit on sexual violence against women in conflict last month.The Hollywood actress is  the Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.Nauru is a destination for Australian asylum seekers under the federal government's policy of not accepting asylum seekers on the Australian mainland.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres has been a staunch critic of the effect on asylum seekers. He has previously called the Australian attitude to asylum seekers arriving by boat to seek protection as "very strange".Nauru's government confirmed the actress had accepted the invitation, and said it believed the visit would be an opportunity to showcase the facilities for refugees on Nauru, the ABC reported.No date has been set for Jolie's visit to Nauru.Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday any visit by the Hollywood star to Nauru was not a matter for Australia.‘‘Well, those are matters for the Nauruan government, they decide who comes to their country. You should direct those questions to them,’’ he said during a press conference in Canberra.When asked whether the minister was concerned Ms Jolie's visit would shine a light on Australia's treatment of asylum seekers in Nauru, Mr Morrison said: ‘‘I don't plan to respond to any of the assertions you have made. Who visits Nauru is a matter for the Nauruan government.’’

source : SMH