CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 12 AUGUST 1985
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER PARLIAMENTARY LUNCHEON
HIS EXCELLENCY RATU SIR PENAIA KANABUTU GANILAU
GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF FIJI CANBERRA 12 AUGUST 1985
Your Excellency, Adi Mai, Mr high
Commissioner, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and
Gent lemen.
Your State visit to Australia, following Sir Ninian
Stephen's visit to Fiji, marks a further stage in the
maturing relationship between our countries.
Since achieving independence, Fiji has won great respect
in the South Pacific region and in the international
community in general.
Fiji's contribution to international peace-keeping is
very impressive. Your personal interest in this is
widely respected.
Fiji's active participation in international affairs,
such as at the UN Women's Conference in Nairobi last
month, which you attended, Adi Mei, is valued by
Australia. The shared interests of Fiji and Australia were brought
to the forefront again last week at the South Pacific
Forum in Rarotonga
Where my friend Prime Minister: Ratu Mara and I were
able, together with other Paci-fic leaders, to
discuss the many matters of mutual concern which
join the countries of our region so amicably
together.
The shared interests of Forum countries range from
concerns over trade and telecommunications, the special
problems of smaller states and regional political
questions such as New Caledonia.
-2
As a region, we share jointly the responsibility for
peace and security, for our environment, and for our
future prosperity
TIhe endorsement given by the Raratonga Forum to the
Treaty for the Establishment of a Nuclear Free Zone in
the South Pacific is of historic importance
Australia is pleased that Fiji as well as Australia
and six other Forum countries, was able to sign at
Ra rotonga
We believe that the Treaty, endorsed on the
Anniversary of the nuclear devastation of the city
of Horoshima, gives practical effect to Regional
concerns about nuclear testing in the Pacific, the
stationing of nuclear weapons and the dumping of
radioactive waste
And is a real step forward in arms control in a
global as well as a regional sense.
The SPARTECA agreement is an area of particular concern
to Fiji. At the Forum I was able to inform Heads of
Government of the Australian Government's decisions to
liberalise Forum island countries' access to the
Australian market.
Australia's and New Zealand's offer to enter into
discussions about whether there would be an
advantage in Forum countries joining a broadened
Australia-New Zealand Close Economic Relations
Agreement was also taken up.
I very much enjoyed my official visit to Suva last year
as well as the pleasant and useful stopover which we had
with Ratu tlara and Adi Lady Lala last weekend.
We supported with enthusiasm the decison to hold next
year's Forum meeting in Suva and look forward to seeing
you again there.
There are many diverse links joining our countries:
QANTAS and Air Pacific are co-operating to assist
your tourist industry.
Our Defence Co-operation Program widens the
experience of personnel in both our defence forces
and is of benefit to both our countries.
And I do not need to mention our countries' ' shared
enthusiasm for rugby union.
Your Exqpllency
I spoke before of the maturing relationship between
Australia and Fiji. Let us look forward to our
friendship and co-operation continuing far into the
future.