I will visit Turkey, France and Israel from 21 April to
4 May to attend Anzac Day memorial services at Gallipoli and to further
strengthen Australia's relations with all three countries.
At this year's dawn service marking the 85th anniversary
of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli I will join NZ Prime Minister Clark
in inaugurating the new ANZAC Commemorative Site at Anzac Cove, a site
of enduring significance for Australians everywhere.
During my visit to Turkey from 22 to 26 April, I will hold discussions
with President Demirel and Prime Minister Ecevit. Building upon our historical
links with Turkey, I hope to encourage greater substance to bilateral
relations and further growth in trade and investment.
My visit to France from 26 to 29 April will include a visit to the WW
I battlefields of the Somme, and talks with President Chirac, Prime Minister
Jospin and key members of the French government and business community.
Our long-standing bilateral relationship is substantial and expanding.
I intend highlighting Australia's strong economic performance and
contribution to regional and Pacific security as a basis for strengthening
our commercial and government-to-government ties.
During my visit to Israel from 29 April to 2 May I will hold discussions
with Prime Minister Barak, President Weizman, and others. I will attend
a Holocaust Memorial Service at the Yad Veshem Holocaust Monument and
will also be honoured to accept an honorary doctorate of philosophy from
the Bar-Ilan University. I will also address a business lunch hosted by
the Australia/Israel Chamber of Commerce.
I will also hold discussions with Chairman Arafat and key members of
the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. Australia strongly supports a lasting
and genuine peace in the Middle East and my discussions with Prime Minister
Barak and with Chairman Arafat will encourage the efforts of all parties
toward this objective.