IVI
PRIME MINISTER
SPEECH BY PRIM HMSTER, THE HON P I KEAM) N, NV'
CENOTAPH CEREMONY
9 AUGUST, 1993
E& OE PROOF COPY
HIft Fxcellency, the Pres~ ident of Naum1 the honowablo Speaker of ie Nawijan
Puarnment, miembers of the Nauruan Cabinet other distinguished gisests, and tadies and
gcntlomwn. I understand my in~ it is the Frt to Nauru by an Austruliin Primc Minister.
I thiink it is therefore ' very fitting that Presidoni Dowfyogo and I should take a mornant
from the Forum schedule to take part in today' coremony here at the Cenotaph.
The Cerntaph honours the courage and sacrifice of Naunuan and Ausralians who
sufferid dwrinjS the Japan ese occupatio n of Nauu
It 6~ important that we ncvcr forget the great ftragdy experieniced by the Nauruan
peoplc at that tie
The ccrmnunity was dMdcd by mnass exilo. Vnspeakable hardship and brutality mncant
thats mny Nauruans died. Indeed a Largo part of the population died.
Exceptional qualities are needed for a comniiy to surve adversity r-uch as ths.
A generation of Nauruan leadership was forged in thAt bidter stnvle,
Their loyalty to their community remains an timpiration for aft Nauxuans today.
As an Auatralian I am also proud to honour the bravery and dedication of Colonel
Chalmers and hiis four colleagues who died htr in the occupation. Their namecs are
fixed at th.; Ccnotaph commemoration of the fact that they stayed after the evacuation
with the Nauun people anid died as a conscquence.
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Our two countries have a long association, and it is associations of this kind where we
sharo an experience in war. Where we die at the hands of an enemy, but die together.
We know these things form part now of not just a long association but a long
fricndship. We know each other now as friends and partners.
In recalling together today our shared history, we should draw faith from the courage
and dedication of past generations of Naunans and Australians. People who faced
hardship and struggle, and in the Second World War, of course, brutality on a scale
none of us today are asked to bear.
We should of the consequene of all this commit ourselves to long-standing friendship
and cooperation in the fu;,.
I am very happy that earlier today, President Dowiyogo and I agreed on a compact of
settlement which will define a new phase in the Australia. Nauru relationship.
lhi is a relationship which I think is now underwritten by a treaty of principles,
statement of principles, which I might say exists between Australia and no other country
as it now does between Australia and Nauru.
Never bcfWore have we written downi the basis of an ongoing friendship together as we
have today.
So from here on we know well that we can build a future on a shared past, we know
ours is a unique relationship, one which I am sure will endure.
I am very hlionourd to have had the opportunity to visit Nauru, and particularly
honoured to take place in today's ceremony, where as Prime Minister of Australia this is
the 1rt opportunity for me in the position of Prime Minister to honour the Australians
who died here and to honour the Nauruans who died also. And to bring to our
memory the great losses and shared sacrifices of the Second World War.
Our long history together is worthy of remembrance and now we can celebrate a future
together, one based on mutual trust and mutual respect and one where we know well
together where our future will lead us.
Thank you very much for having me here today as part of this very moving ceremony.
ENDS
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