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FOR MEDIA 24 NOVEMBER 1981
AUSTRALIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE SINAI
PEACEKEEPING FORCE
In my statement to the Parliament on 22 October, I announced
the terms of the Government's decision concerning Australian
participation in the Sinai Peacekeeping Force.
I stated that:
" the Government has decided that Australia will agree to
participate in the Sinai Peacekeeping Force subject to
Britain ar'd Canada also agreeing to participate. In the
interests of obtaining the broadest-based international
acceptance of the Force, significant European participation
is a critical factor. We are glad to see from publ. ished reports
that France is reconsidering her attitude.
I also said that:
" there is a limit to what Austra'lia as a middle power can
do. We must avoid unrealistic views of what we can achieve.
But to say that there are limits is in no way to say that
we could not make a valuable contribution in conjunction
with other countries which share our interests and our concern
for peace in the region".
In our consideration of a possible Australian contribution, a
principal concern from the outset has been the need to achieve!
a balanced, truly multi-national force. The Government has made
this plain from the beginning.
The Government considered this matter in early October, at thE! time
of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. As a result of
discussions that then took place, it seemed that the most likely
way to achieve a balanced force would be for Canada and Britain
to participate in the Force, along with Australia, to join wit~ h
the other countries which had already indicated their willingness
to participate. That is why the decision about Australian
participation was made in those terms, and why the United States
was informed of our decision in those terms. / 2
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On. 28 October, in answer to a question in Parliament about reports
foreshadowing agreement by France, Britain, The Netherlands
and Italy to take part in the Peacekeeping Force. I said
" Obviously that also will lead to a balanced force.
The Commonwealth's concern all along is that there be
a balanced force. We would obviously look at the
matter on the merits to see which countries are actually
going to perform and to contribute. But I am making
the point that the participation of Canada is not the
only way of achieving that particular objective."
It has now been announced that France, Britain, The Netherlandsand
Italy intend to participate in the Peacekeeping Force.
The announcement to participate by these four countries meets
the Commonwealth Government's requirement for a balanced
multi-national force, and makes it possible for Australia also
to participate. We have noted that the Egyptian Government has
welcomed the European decision, and we look forward to the Israeli
Government's doing likewise. With difficulties unlikely to arise
in respect of the other matters mentioned in my statement of
22 October, the Government will be advising the United States,
Egypt and Israel of Australia's agreement to participate in thE!
Force.-We welcome the recent statement by the Prime Minister of New
Zealand concerning New Zealand's intentions.
The Government's decision of 12 October about Australian
participation included a number of other aspects which are
important to the full protection of Australia's independence
and sovereignty. Discussions are taking place in relation to
these other matters and I am confident that no obstacles will
arise. In respect of our concern that the Sinai peacekeeping
force not be linked with the Rapid Deployment Force, the United
States Secretary of State has said that any contribution of a
US contingent would be for the specific peacekeeping mission
provided for in the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. As
I said in my statement to the Parliament on 22 October, the
precise composition of our contribution will be decided after
discussions with other participants, and also the duration of our
participation has * to be agreed. In due course, after discussions
with all relevant parties, an announcement will be made giving
the precise details of our-commitment.' The commitment will,
however, be consistent with that stated to the Parliament..
The Government has made it plai'n that a sol~ ution to the
Palestinian issue is clearly central to the future stability and
peace of the Middle East. As I said in my statement of 22 October,
the Government is concerned that our participation in the peacekeeping
force would have the maximum-i possible influence in
continuing and broadeninql the peace process in the Middle East.
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