CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
THE RON R J L HAWKE AC MP
DINNER HOSTED BY THE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY ? AND
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENXT, M. ROGER FAXIROUX AND
THE ASSOCIAT MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFAIRS,
NM= EDWIGE AVICE
PARIS MONDAY 19 JUNE 1989
I am delighted to be able to return to Paris for my second
official visit to France. I count it a special privilege to
be here as Prime minister of Australia at this time on the
eve, as it were, of the celebration of the epoch making
events of two hundred years ago.
At such a time, it gives me particular pleasure to be able
to state that the fundamental relations between our two
countries have never been stronger. Australia and France
now have a friendly and co-operative relationship which
reflects our shared history, our shared democratic ideals
and our shared aspirations for the advancement of our
people.
Already, during my visit, I have had powerful and poignant
reminders of our long and close association. Tremendous
tides of history have worked to bring our two peoples
together. Yesterday, at the Somme, Australian and Frenchmen
and women assembled together to honour the sacrifice of two
generations of our fellow countrymen in the cause of
democracy and freedom.
This evening, during my call on the Mayor of Paris,
M. Jacques Chirac, I announced an Australian gift to the
City of Paris of a bust of the great explorer Jean-Francois
de La Perouse. This, in itself, commemorates one of the
most remarkable and indeed, romantic episodes in the
history of exploration; that day in January 1788 when two
expeditions from the far ends of the earth met near what is
now the great city of Sydney the French on a scientific
naval voyage of discovery and the British to found a tiny
settlement from which the modern nation of Australia has I 140
grown. That remarkable encounter further serves to remind
us of the significant ro ' le played by France in the
exploration of Australia and the Pacific not only by the
ill-fated La Perouse, but by Bougainville, D'Entrecasteaux,,
Baudin and Peron.
I had the opportunity today to discuss with President
Mitterrand and Prime Minister Rocard developments in New
Caledonia. I told them that we applaud and support your
achievement in bringing about agreement between the major
parties to the dispute in that territory. We share your
hope that the Matignon Accords will provide-the basis for a
long-term and peaceful settlement in New Caledonia.
Australia stands ready, in agreement with the French
authorities, to do what it can to co-operate with the people
of Mew Caledonia in this crucial period of their
development, which is important to the peaceful and stable
development of the South Pacific region.
Australia welcomes France's policies in New Caledonia as a
constructive contribution to the affairs of the South
Pacific, where we are willing to co-operate with you in the
pursuit of common goals and policies.
I do not seek, however, to gloss over Australia's
disappointment and opposition to the continuation of your
nuclear testing program in our region. Australia's views
are, of course, shared by other member countries of the
South Pacific Forum.
As my talks with French leaders today confirmed, Australia
and France share common views on a wide range of
international issues. Both countries are prepared to take
risks in the search for peace, as evidenced by our efforts
ina respect of Cambodia and the Middle East, specifically
Lebanon. Likewise, we have worked together closely on
disarmament issues, especially those relating to Chemical
weapons. Mr Fauroux, Mmne Avice, this important occasion tonight,
involving both business and Government leaders, demonstrates
our commitment to work tovards a significant improvement in
OUr coonamic relaUtuuwaihp. As we agreed in our earlier
talks, there is considerable scope to expand two way trade
and investment. I very much appreciate the involvement of
you, Mr Fauroux, of Mmne Avice, and of your Ministerial
colleagues. My Government has taken major policy initiatives over the
past six years to open up the Australian economy to foreign
trade and investment. We welcome French interest and French
investment: we are convinced that Australia offers much to
French businessmen both in its own right'and as a
springboard to the considerable and rapidly expanding
markets of the Asia-Pacific region.
I very much welcome the initiative of Prime Minister Rocard
in creating a ' Club Australia' under the guidance of Mr Jean
Gandois,, to work towards improving French knowledge of the
Australian market and of the opportunities which exist for
trading with and investing in Australia. I can assure you
that this initiative has the full support of my Government.
As I told you before dinner, we are working actively in
Australia to establish complementary institutional
arrangements which will strengthen further the vital links
between our private sectors. It is they who are at the
sharp end of the relationship and it is incumbent upon both
governments to ensure that they have a positive and
supportive framework in which to operate.
For our own part, we are conscious of the need to develop
greater awareness in the Australian business community of
the opportunities represented by the large French market and
of the significant role you play in leading-edge scientific
and technological developments. The Australian business
leaders who have accompanied me to Paris represent some of
Australia's largest and most highly respected companies. As
was evidenced in our discussions before dinner, they are
interested and committed to finding mutually beneficial
commercial opportunities with their French counterparts.
Some are already positively involved in the French market in
a very significant way.
A great challenge for Australia is to take advantage of the
enormous opportunities offered by the creation of a single
European Market in 1992. Indeed, an important purpose of my
visit is to explore further the implications of 1992, and to
urge European Governments not to lose sight of the impact of
their decisions on other trading nations and regions in the
world. The Australian Government and people welcome the historic
developments now unfolding in Western Europe. They portend
for the peoples of Europe a transformation of the pattern of
their history as momentous as that achieved by the French
Revolution itself.
A Single Market open to the outside world will be a truly
positive force in the international trading system and is
something Australia would very much welcome. A Market
closed and restrictive will have failed its ultimate
promise. Hr Faurowc, Mine Avice, I cannot mention these issues without
referring to the Common Agricultural Policy of the European
Community.
The CAP has done great damage directly to Australia, by
distorting internal agricultural markets. Indirectly, that
damage has been compounded through the United States'
retaliation in the form of its Export Enhancement Program
and other mechanisms. Australia has been caught in the
crossfire of the EC/ Us trade war.
In Australia's view, subsidised agricultural trade casts a
shadow over our relations with France, and other community
countries. As you know, we, and our Cairns Group partners,
are working actively to ensure that such problems are
resolved in the Uruguay Round of negotiations due to end in
1990. A successful outcome would not only be to the benefit
of efficient primary producers worldwide but would bri~ ng
very direct benefit to European consumers in the form of
cheaper food and foodstuffs.
If agriculture represents a difficulty between us, there is
a matter of supreme importance to this generation and all
future generations which offers enormous scope for
French-Australian co-operation.
I take this opportunity to place on record the Australian
government's recognition of the-French contribution towards
focusing the world's attention on the crucial question of
the environment. We are grateful for the leadership that
France gave at the Hague meeting last March. We salute
President Mitterrand and Prize Minister Rocard for their
leadership and commitment.
My discussions in Paris have established common ground
between our two countries on Antarctica. We share deeply
felt reservations about jeopardising this unique area of the
world by exposing it to mining. I am confident that we can
work together to protect the Antarctic wilderness as a
legacy to future generations of the environmental sense of
responsibility of this generation.
M. Fauroux, lMe Avice,
It is a special privilege to be here in Paris at such an
historic time for France and for the world.
The history of European settlement in Australia is
contemporaneous with the history of Western civilisation
since the French Revolution. Indirectly, that momentous
event has had a profound influence on us. over the years,,
Australia and France have found themselves on the same side
in the great and tragic conflicts which-have shaped the
modern era. And today, I find enormous encouragement in the
common values and goals which link the citizens of Australia
and France as we prepare to enter the 21st Century.