PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF SPEECH AT OFFICIAL LUNCH, CYPRUS, 26 JANUARY 1987
E-._. RROOF-ONLY
PM: Mr President, Madam O. AMinisters, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I think you are aware, Mr President, that the brief duration of
our stay in your country is no indication of any lack or small
interest in this country. On the contrary, we are pleased to have
the opportunity of being here for this period. I would mention
to you, today is Australia's National Day. I do not do that to
seek any congratulations from you, rather to make the point that
we as a Nation have changed remarkably in the post-war period,
and at the end of the last war, we-were only a Nation of
seven million people. We are now a Nation of sixteen million
people. Of course we have had that very significant increase in
our population because we have had one of the most massive
R
imm~ igration programs in history. People from many countries have
added strength, diversity and richness to the nation of Australia
and none would say the more significant part in that increasing
strength, diversity and richness that have the some 50,000 or
more people of Cypriot origin. The characteristic of that post-wardevlopentand
8 row thbs66_ int thedemon s trated capacity ot
people from different ethni. c-. and--cultural backgro~ undo... be able
to live together in peace, and I am pleased to say that in our
community that has been true of people of both Greek and Turkish
Cypriot origin. And so it is because in this day we aE.
Australians think with pride of the capacity of people with
different backgrounds to live together in the new environment of
Australia that we have perhaps, Mr President. a particular sense
of tragedy with you, of what is happening at this time in Cyprus.
You and your Ministers have been kind enough today to share at
some length with us your views, both of the nature of the problem
that c-onfronts you and of what you-Ve'd as the appropriate avenues
for a just, peaceful and durable resolution of these problems.
You have been kind enough to indicate that over the years,
Australia has been identified both within the United Nations and
within the Commonwealth with attemps defined a way to-resolve
the tragedy that does exist here, and I have taken this
opportunity today, and I take it again now of reaffirming our
continuing support that Australia will give to the process of
achieving a resolution of this pursuit. We understand your
consideration. We believe that Resolution 541 and 550 United
Nations provide the basis for such a resolution. We wish to
see the Secretary-General of the United Nations continuingI
his efforts, and I am pleased to have been told by you that his
representative will be here in the early days of February to
review again those processes. I can assure you that you and
the people of Cyprus will continue to have our understanding and
we hope that through our understanding and we hope that through
those processes under the aegis -of the Secretary-General that
we can produce once again the situation once again in Cyprus
that has characterised which--as you--have-gone-out-o-f your way toemphasise,
as earlier days a vote of war and peace when people
both of Greek and Turkish origin have been able to live
harmoniously together. That is going to take dedication.
commitment and hard work on the part of the people concerned,
the parties concerned, and we for our part have seen today
the depth of your commitment and integrity and we certainly wish
you well in the difficult, arduous days ahead. Our discussions,
Mr President, have not been confined, although the majority of
our time has been associated with discussing the question you and
I have-just referred, but I am plea'etf to say that we have just
recognised referred, that I am pleased to say that we have both
recognised that the bilateral relations between our two countries
are in excellent shape and we have mutually reaffirmed our
commitment to further strengthen those relations. I have also
taken the opportunity Mr President of saying to you, and I say
it again how much we appreciate the strength and commitment of
the action that Cyprus has taken in the international drug
traffic, taken the steps to do all that it can to cease that
hideous traffic~ this is an issue to of concern to us in Australia
we do appreciate the stregnth and commitment of your position
there. After all the reasons that I have alluded to. Mr President
I thank you again for the warmth of your welcome, I take this
4 D opportunity of reaffirming the strength of friendship between
us, and I give you the commitment of Australia that we will do
all that we can to assist the efforts under the aegis of the
United Nations to see that the sad division that exists is
brought to an end and that the people, all the people of
Cyprus are once again able to live in peace and constructive
harmony. Ladies and Gentlemen, I would ask you to rise and
join me in the toast that I offer to the President and the
people of Cyprus and to continuing bonds of the people of
Cyprus and of Australia.