PM Transcripts

TEL: 15. Apr. 94 16: 42 No. 017 P. 01/ 02
PRIME MINISTER
INAUGURATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT
Two former Prime Ministers, the Rt HonjdMalcolm Fraser and the Hon Bob Hawk~ e,
will represent Australia at the ioauguraion of the new President of South Africa
scheduled to take place in Pretoria on 10 May 1994, following the elections on 27
April. It is especially appropriate that Mr Hawke and Mr Fraser should attend the
inauguration, since for more than 20 years Australia n governments on both sides of
politics sought an end to apartheid. From the early 1970s, despite a number of
changes of Government, one constant, whichever party was in power, has been
Australia's active opposition to apartheid in all its manifestations.
Both Mr Fraser and Mr Hawke were personally in the forefront of international efforts
to end apartheid. Both were firmly committed to Commonwealth sanctions against
South Africa.
As Prime Minister, Mr Fraser was one of the driving forces behind the
Commonwealth ban on sporting contacts imposed as a result of the 1977
Gleneagles Agreement. Following his retirement from politics, the Commonwealth
recognised Mr Fraser's standing in the struggle against apartheid by inviting him to
be joint chair of the Commonwealth's Eminent Persons' Group ( EPG) which helped
encourage the development of political dialogue in South Africa.
During his term as Prime Minister, Mr H-awke was closely involved in Commonwealth
efforts to end the oppression of black South Africans. In 1985 he made a strong
personal commitment to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
( CHOGM) in Nassau which agreed on the imposition of trade and investment
sanctions against South Africa, and at subsequent Commonwealth meetings he was
Involved in strengthening the sanctions regime. In particular, he was involved in the
development andd pro motion internationally of the concept of financial sanctions.
The Labor Government under Mr Hawke also led the way in developing the
Commonwealth's policy of the phased reduction of sanctions in response to positive
steps by South Africa in negotiating a transition to democracy.
Mr Fraser and Mr Hawke will carry with them the best wishes of the Government and
people of Australia for the future of a democratic South Africa.
CANBERRA April 1994 29/ 94