PM Transcripts

AUST R A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 20 OCTOBER 1978
The Prime Minister today welcomed the assurances that the
Government had received from the Government of Syria, that
restrictions on Australian passengers of the Jewish faith
transitting through Damascus airport are no longer applicable.
These assurances had been given following representations by
the Australian Government, which had been very concerned about
reports that QANTAS was acceding to Syrian regulations that
prohibited people of Jewish faith, of any nationality, travelling
on aircraft that called at Damascus.
Mr Fraser reaffirmed that the Australian Government abhorred all
forms of discrimination on racial, religious or other grounds.
The Australian Government had now asked QANTAS to take the
necessary action to ensure that the Travel Information Manual
issued by IATA is amended appropriately to conform with the
current situation.
This Manual is used by a large number of international airlines
And travel agents, and it was on the basis of the information
contained in it that QANTAS and other international airlines
had counselled passengers of the Jewish faith to avoid flights
through Damascus.
Mr Fraser said that he was delighted that this restriction no
longer applied, because the Government could not and would not
condone discrimination against any group of Australian citizens.