IA PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF COMMENTS, GREENSBOROUGH SHOPPING MALL, MELBOURNE,
7 APRIL 1987
E 0 E PROOF ONLY
JOURNALIST: Mir ! Hat.' ke, are you concerned about the Libyan
presence in the South Pacific?
PM: Yes, I am. And I didn't wait until I saw it in the
Age newspaper today to know about it. I have expressing
my concern about this for a considerable period of time.
And not just expressing our concern but for some time with
the United States I have told them that they would be making
a serious mistake in the South Pacific over a number of years
and leaving their foreign policy situation in the South Pacific
to the American Tuna Boat Association. Unfortunately, that
created a vacuum and you had there where the Soviet Union
was able to move into Kirabati with their fishing agreement.
They are now doing it with Vanuatu. And now, fortunately,
the United States has finalised this $ 60m arrangement fisheries
paymenL over a 5 year-period. That is going to start to
remedy the situation. But the problem is that in that sort
of vacuum the Soviet moved into some extent and so have the
Libyans. We are very much aware of what has happened in
the firms of people going from Vanuatu to Libya, the connection
between the Libyans and Vanuatua, the OPM. And now, very
worringly, the suggestion that there is going to be a linkage
into New Caledonia with the Libyans. We are monitoring it
very closely. I have expressein the South Pacific Forum
in the last 2 years as strongly as I could, concern that
the nations of the South Pacific should not get entangled
with the Libyans because it is just preposterous there
is this little country of 3 million people in North Africa
3 m~ illion people enveloped in conflict with its immediate
neighbours, and in conflict with France. By what measure
of anything that starts to be intellectually reasonable can
their presence in the South Pacific be justified. They have
a monstrous record in terms of their relations with other
countries. They embrace the tactic of terror. And I say
quite firmly and deliberately that any countries in this
region that enter into dealings with them are making a very
grave mistake. Libya is not here for any altruistic reason.
They are here to promote terrorism, unrest, and obviously
most recently, because Libya is concerned with the conflA,) t
it is having with France, then they are going to try and
foment armed terrorist situations here to embarrass the French.
No-one is more stronger than I am in terms of criticising
the French for the way they are handling the present French
Pci~ Mi, f ~, E0EB4.~~ UC48~ 70I 8 10 03 F .0 3 2.
PM cont: Government is handling the transition in New
Caledonia. But I say quite straightforwardly that I would
stand shoulder to shoulder with France in condemning the
injection into this terribly volatile situation of any Libyan
presence. They bring, they have never in recent history.
been identified with bringing to any situation mollifying
influences, peaceful influences, cohesive influences. Their
whole record has been one of terrorism, of destabilisation.
We don't want and we don't need them in the region.
JOURNALIST: Any sort of action you can think of taking,
any talks you can
PM: The countries in the region are sovereign countries.
Vanuatu is a sovereign, indepedent nation. We can make it
clear as we have that we believe it is unwise for a nation
to get into a close association with Libya. I have made
that clear directly in meetings of the South Pacific Forum
countries. I have made it clear in many public statements.
But in the end these are sovereign, independent nations.
And I can Just but continue to warn them. As far as we are
concerned we have increased and you would have noticed
that the Minister for Defence announced Just in the last
few weeks we have increased the extent of maritime surveillance
exercises by the Royal Australian Navy in the South Pacific
Region. We want the countries in the region to underst~ d
that we will help them with the real concerns they have about
being able to patrol their EEZs the Exclusive Economic
Zones. And it behoves countries like us to give that sort
of assistance so that they can have no reason at all for
trying to have recourse to a country like Libya, which I
repeat has got no conceivable, legitimate, peaceful interest
in the region.
JOURNALIST: inaudible question
PM: * It was to-support a magnificent local member, Mr Peter
Cleeland. To support this man who is one of our very, very
best members to support him. And I am having a campaign
to go around the country-supporting members like him in our
relatively marginal seats but more importantly, as the weeks
go on; because he is going to win with an increased margin.
It won't be marginal after the next election he is going
to increase his majority. I am going around to more and
more of the seats which are held by narrow majorities by
the Liberals and by the National Party because we are going
to win a number off those in the next election.
JOURNALIST: Has the campaign begun, effectively, Prime Minister?
PM: I don't know what You mean by campaign. Not officially,
but I will certainly between now and whenever the election
is held, I will be going around the country explaining the
performanzce~ of this Government and asking the people to make
the contrast between the stability of this Government and
the chaos and the bitterness and internal hatreds of the
Liberal Party and the National Party.
ends
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