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EMBARGO:. 12-. 0 MIDNIGHT
4I AUSTRAL1A & L
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS ' 9 Martch : 197 6
JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED ON TUESDAY 9 MARCH* 1976 AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE STATE VISIT TO AUSTRALIA-OF THE KING AND QUEEN
OF JORDAN
Their Majesties King Hussein 1 and Queen** Alia of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan paid a State Visit to Australia from
2 to 9 March 1976.
The visit, which served to reflect the deep warmth of
relations existing between the two countries, took place
at the invitiation of Their Excellencies the Governor-General.
of Australia, Sir John Kerr, and Lady Kerr.
Their Majesties visited Canberra from 2 to 4 March, Melbourne
from 4 to 6 March and Sydney from 6 to 9 March.
In Canberra, His Majesty the-. King of Jordan had discussions
with His Excellency the Governor-General, with the Prime Minister
of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Right Honourable
Malcolm Fraser, with the Foreign Minister, the Honourable
Andrew Peacock, M. P. and with the Leader of the Opposition,
the Honourable Gough Whitlam, and with members
of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Australian
Cabinet. Their Majesties attended a dinner given in their honour
by the Governor-General and Lady Kerr, and the King and Queen
subsequently offered a dinner in honour of Their Excellencies.
His Majesty the King also attended a luncheon given at
Parliament House by the Australian Prime Minister. Their
Majesties received the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and visited
./ 2
the Australian War Memorial. The King was guest of
honour at a National Press Club luncheon.
King Hussein and the Australian Prime Minister examined
closely the prospects for closer economic, scientific,
technical and agricultural co-operation between the two
countries. The Australian Government noted Jordan's impressive record
of economic growth and its plans for economic and social
development in the period 1976 to 1980.
Both sides agreed that a broad agreement should be concluded
between the two countries outlining basic principles f or
the expansion of their trade, economic, technical and scientific
co-operation, and for the establishment of agricultural and
industrial joint ventures.
It was agreed that officials of the two countries should meet
at an early date to identify specific areas of such cooperation
and to establish a framework within which such programmes
could be most effectively implemented.
The Australian Government indicated that it would be criad
to consider proposals for Australian technical co-operation
with Jordan in such fields as irrigation, dry land farming,
agricultural mechanisation, technical education, scientific
research and the use of solar energy, with a view to supporting
and contributing towards Jordan's plans for economic and
social development.
Following discussions of possible initiatives in Australian-
Jordanian cultural and scientific relations, the Australian
Government proposed to invite senior Jordanian officials
to visit Australia to pursue the prospects of continuing
scientific co-operation and exchange.
It was agreed that the question of the introduction of
air services between Jordan and Australia would be kept
under review and that it would be,'. desirable for efforts
to be made to encourage an increase in the flow of tourist
traffic between the two countries.
Extensive discussions were held between the King and his
advisers and the Australian Government on Middle East
issues. King Hussein outlined to the Australian Prime
Minister and Ministers the background to the continuing Middle
East dispute and Mr Fraser and his Ministers showed their
concern at the dispute and its wider implications.
Both sides were agreed on the urgent need for the implementation
of Resolutions 242 ( 1967) and.. 338 ( 1973) of the United Nations
Security Council.
Both sides were agreed on the need for any settlement to
take account of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian
people, and of the right of all states in the area to exist.
within secure and recognised boundaries.
In Melbourne, Their Majesties attended a State. Reception
given in their honour by His Excellency the Governor of
Victoria and Lady Winneke. The King also visited the
Werribee State Research Farm, where he saw the Cameron
Laboratory of Animal Husbandry Research, the Gilbert Chandler
Institute of DairyTechnology, the Plant Breeding Laboratory
and the Veterinary Clinical Centre. Later His Majesty saw
cars under test at the proving ground of the Ford Motor
Company of Australia. The Queen inspected the National
Gallery of Victoria. Their Majesties were entertained by
the Victorian Racing Club at Flemington Racecourse.
In Sydney, Their Majesties-attended a State Dinner given in their
honour by the Government of New South Wales. The King visited
establishments of the Royal A ustralian Navy and inspected the
Qantas Airways Base at Sydney ( Kingsford-Smith) Airport. The
Queen visited the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children. Their
Majesties also inspected the Sydney Opera House. .4
The King was accompanied by the following members of his family:
Her Royal Highness Princess Alia
Her Royal Highness Princess Basma
His Excellency Mr Taimur Daghestani
The other members of the King's Official Suite were:
His Excellency Mr Zeid Al-Rifa'i ( Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister) and Mrs Al-Rifa'i
His Highness Prince Ra'ad Bin Zeid ( Lord Chamberlain to
His Majesty)
His Excellency Mr Raja'i Muasher ( Minister of Trade and Industry)
His Excellency the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdon
of Jordan and Mrs Amer Shammout
Major General Awad Alhalidi ( Military Adviser to His Majesty)
His Excellency Dr Hana Odeh ( Chief of the Jordanian National
Development Board)
His Excellency Mr Yanal Hikmat ( Chief of Royal Protocol)
Brigadier Samir Farraj ( Personal Physician to His Majesty)
Colonel Mohammad Kassab ( Commander of the Royal Special Guard)
Colonel Bader Zaza ( Aide-de-Camp to His Majesty)
The Australian officials accompanying Their Majesties were:
His Excellency the Australian Ambassador to the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan and Mrs P. N. Hutton
Group Captain J. R. Boast, A. F. C. ( Aide-de-Camp)
Mr J. H. Scholtens, C. V. O. ( Director, Ceremonial and Hospitality)
Mr W. G. N. Orr, C. V. O. E. D. ( Deputy Director,
Ceremonial and Hospitality)
Mr G. F. O'Regan ( Assistant Director, Ceremonial and Hospitality)
Mrs T. Shand ( Department of Foreign Affairs)
Mr I. S. Lincoln ( Department of Foreign Affairs)
Mr G. R. Wicks '( Media Liaison Officer)
At the conclusion of the State Visit the Australian Government
expressed pleasure that King Hussein had made this visit, the first
by the Head of State of an Arab nation to Australia. His Majesty
expressed his gratitude for Australia's hospitality and extended
invitations to His Excellency the Governor-General and the Australian
Prime Minister to visit Jordan at a mutually agreed time.