wj: R a
PRIME MINISTER
ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENCE
During my meeting today with Mr. Mugabe, Prime Minister of
Zimbabwe, I said that Australia warmly welcomed Zimbabwe's
independence and looked forward to the development of a
constructive and many-sided relationship with Zimbabwe.
My presence here, in company with my colleagues from the
Australian. Parliament, testifies to that.
The road to independence has been a particularly difficult
one for Zimbabwe, involving years of bloodshed and~ mistrust
and affecting thousands of families, both in Zimbabwe
and elsewhere in Africa. The recent months, however, have
seen a determined and successful effort by Zimbabwe's
political leaders to achieve a peaceful settlement and an
end to the war, with national reconciliation a very
considerable achievement. Australia is pleased to have been
able to play some part in Zimbabwe's progress to independence,
through consultations with African and other leaders,
including the Prime Minister of Britain; through the
Commonwealth's consideration of this matter in Lusaka; and
by membership of the Commonwealth Observer Group and the
Ceasefire monitoring Force and the work of the National
observer Group.
There have been times when peace in Zimbabwe has seemed an
unattainable goal. However, it is now a reality which will
permit the energies of the people of this country to be
directed towards a better life for everyone, with opportunities
for all.
Australia wishes Mr. Mugabe every success in the difficult
task ahead of him.
My talks with Mr. Mugabe provide a valuable opportunity for
the establishment of personal contact and exchanges at the
highest political level. During the discussions, I told
Mr. Mugabe of Australia's offer of $ 5 million in aid over a
period of two years, of which $ 1.5 million has been earmarked
for the immediate rehabilitation and expansion of such facilities
as schools and hospitals, and for veterinary work and
agricultural rehabilitation in rural areas. officials of-the
two countries will consult about the most useful and efficient
way of expending the total amount, and to this end, an officer
of the Australian Development Assistance Bureau will be stationed
in Salisbury for a period. This Australian aid will, as always,
be on grant terms. / 2
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This is not the first such step that Australia has taken in
relation to Zimbabwe. We have already donated $ 1 million to
the UNHCR appeal for Zimbabwean refugees. In addition, some
100 Zimbabweans have participated in Australian training
programs over the years. These programs are continuing, and
we are particularly pleased that among the Zimbabwean trainees
this year will be two participants in the Australian Foreign
Service training course.
I was very pleased that Mr. Mugabe accepted our proposal to
appoint Mr. Jeremy Hearder, a senior Foreign Affairs of fical,
as our first High Commissioner to Zimbabwe.
I also informed Mr. Mugabe of an Australian Government gift of
two despatch boxes for the Senate Chamber of ' the Zimbabwe
Parliament. This gift will symbolise the bond between the two
countries as constitutional democracies with a common system
of institutions which I believe will facilitate co-operation
over a wide range of activities.
Mr. Mugabe and I have agreed that Zimbabwe and Australia will
benefit from the development of economic, trade and commercial
links. I conveyed to Mr. Mugabe Australia's decision to apply
to Zimbabwe the Australian system of Tariff Preferences for
Developing Countries. This decision, which takes immediate
effect, should help Zimbabwe to take advantage of the growing
Australian market.
I also told Mr. Mugabe that I looked forward to welcoming him
with other Commonwealth leaders to the next Commonwealth Heads
of GovernmentMeeting, to be held in Melbourne in 1981. The
Commonwealth has played an important part in the process of
independence for Zimbabwe, and we are particularly pleased that
Zimbabwe has joined the Commonwealth and will be present in
Melbourne for the next CHOGM.
Zimbabwe promises to be a country of large significance. Its
human and material resources, and its industrial skills, give it
the opportunity to be a political and economic leader in the
Southern African region in particular. Its new Government has
embarked on a path of peace, reconciliation and unity, both
at home and abroad, which we hope will be welcomed by all
Zimbabwe's neighbours and reciprocated by them. Zimbabwe will
also be a country of importance in international organisations,
including the United Nations and the Commonwealth.
We in Australia have already demonstrated our active interest
in the welfare and economic development of Zimbabwe under
democratic leadership, and this interest will be maintained
and strengthened as relations between the two countries develop.
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