Jj) ALIA2 2
AUSTRALIA L~
P MI MSTER
FOR PRESS 11 FEBRUARY 1977
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND PRIME MINISTER OF
PAPUA NEW GUINEA ON THE DEFENCE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND AUSTRALIA
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Rt.
Hon. Michael Somare, MP, and the Prime Minister of Australia,
the Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser, CH, MP, today issued a joint
statement on the future defence relationship between Papua
New Guinea and Australia.
The two Prime Ministers affirmed that both their
Governments attached high importance to continuing the
close co-operation between their two countries in defence
matters. They acknowledged their Governments' desire to
contribute to the strengthening of peace and stability in
their common region. They declared that it was their
Governments' intention to consult, at the request of
either, about matters affecting their common security
interests and about other aspects of their defence
relationship. Mr. Fraser confirmed Australia's willingness to
continue, at the request of the Papua New Guinea Government,
to assist in the development of the Papua New Guinea Defence
Force, and in development projects carried out by Australian
Service units in Papua New Guinea, through such arrangements
as: the attachmnent of Australian servicemen, to
the Papua New Guinea Defence Force
the location in Papua New Guinea of formed
units of the Australian Services
the provision of military training, both in
Australia and Papua New Guinea
the undertaking of joint projects which will
develop particular Papua New Guinea Defence
Force capabilities
co-operation in combined exercises between
the Australian and Papua New Guinea forces in
either country
assistance with transport, logistic support
and technical services.
The two Prime Ministers agreed that the continuation of
such arrangements, and the details of their implementation,
would be as decided by their two Governments from time tc
tim..
The two Prime Ministers noted that both
Governments had already entered into the-following
Agreement and subsidiary Arrangements negotiated by the
Papua New Guinea Minister for Defence, the Hon. Sir Maori
Kiki and the Australian Minister for Defence, the' Hon.
D. J. Killen: a Status of Forces Agreement to make proper
legal provision, in accordance with customary
international practice, for the status of all
Service personnel from either country present
in the other. This Agreement would be
registered with the United Nations;
an Arrangement for continuing with the
provision of supply support to the Papua New
Guinea Department of Defence by the Department
of Defence, Australia; and
an Arrangement to continue with consultative
procedures to ensure that there would be
adequate and timely consultations between
their two Governments on politically sensitive
situations in which Australian loan personnel
might be involved.
Both Prime Ministers exoressed their satisfaction
and confidence that this joint statement, and the Agreement
and Arrangements mentioned in it, appropriately reflected
the desire of their Governments to maintain and develop the
close and co-operative defence relationship between their
two countries.