JOINT COMMUNIQUE BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, MR.
E. G. WHITLAM AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF PERU, MAJOR GENERAL
FRANCISCO MORALES BERMUDEZ
At the invitation of the. Government of Peru, the Prime Minister
of Australia, The Honourable E. G. Whitlam, accompanied by the
Special Minister of State, The Honourable L. F. Bowen, paid
an official visit to Peru from 24 to 27 April 1975.
The Prime Minister was received by the President of the
Republic, Major General Juan Velasco Alvarado, and the Prime
Minister and Minister for War, Major General Francisco Morales
Bermudez. He also met the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy
and Mines, Agriculture, Food and Trade.
The Australian Prime Minister undertook a full program of
activities which included joint discussions with six Ministers
and Senior Officials.
He was welcomed by the Lord Mayor who conferred on him the
title of ' Illustrious Guest of the City of Lima'. He visited
museums and historicpl monuments in the capital and in Cuzco.
During the discussions the Prime Minister and the Peruvian
Ministers reviewed the international situation and a wide
range of bilateral and multilateral developments.
The two Prime Ministers noted with pleasure the wide measdlte
of agreement between their respective countries on important
international issues.
They reviewed political and economic problems of the Pacific
area, bearing in mind the important responsibilities of both
countries in that region.
There was recognition that the countries of the region should
work collectively for the protection of their resources within
a new world economic order based on ideological pluralism
and universality of relations, principles which both Governments
observe. The Prime Ministers discussed the question of disarmament
and arms control, particularly the problem of nuclear disarmament.
They reaffirmed the need for urgent measures ' towards a comprehensive
world-wide agreement to end all nuclear weapons tests
as a necessary step towards complete and general disarmament
2.
under effective international control. They expressed
support for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the
hope that countries which have not yet ratified this would
do so in the near future.
The Prime Minister of Australia expressed the deep interest
with which his country followed developments in the non-aligned
movement and his Government's interest in establishing close
relations with it. The Prime Minister of Peru welcomed this
interest which his Government viewed with sympathy.
In the bilateral field they exchanged valuable assessments
and information on broad political, economic and commercial
issues. These exchanges revealed a similar progressive
approach based on rejection of any threats to their people's
freedom of choice and sovereignty over their natural resources
including Maritime resources.
The Peruvian Prime Minister noted with considerable interest
the information provided by his distinguished counterpart
on the general situation in Australia.
He welcomed the domestic measures being implemented by a
friendly nation to further its development as well as its
important initiatives in the sphere of international economic
relations. In turn the Australian Prime Minister received . iith interest
an account of the Peruvian situation, the profound changes
in the political, economic, social and cultural fieldM and
the significant progress already achieved for the benefit
of the Peruvian people. These developments underlined the
importance attached to the Velasco doctrine in promoting
the development of Latin American countries by devoting the
greatest means possible to their progress, and also in
assisting efforts towards world disarmament and universal
peace. The Prime Ministers agreed to establish a mixed Intergovernmental
Commiss-ion for economic cooperation, which will have
the object of examining economic relations and of entering
into basic agreements for cooperation in the commercial,
financial, maritime transport and technical and scientific
cooperation fields.
The Prime Minister of Australia invited the Prime Minister
of Peru to pay an official visit to Australia. The Prime
Minister accepted the invitation with pleasure. A date
for the visit will be fixed in consultation between the
two Governments." A-e.
3.
3h short we are laying the basis for a happy,
secure life in the peacetime forces of our country.
As one who spent four years in the services I know how
important that is. And with the other reforms we have
made, and the equipment programs under way, I have no
doubt-that Australia is in a better position than she
has ever been to meet any military threat or military
obligation in the foreseeable future.
S ALTERATIONS TO THE JOINT COMMUNIQUE BY THE
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, MR E. G. WHITLAM, AND
THE PRIME MINISTER OF PERU, MAJOR GENERAL
FRANCISCO MORALES BERMUDEZ
i. In the tenth paragraph concerning the non-aligned
movement the last sentence reads:-
" The Prime Minister of Peru welcomed this interest
which his Government viewed with sympathy and
expressed his support for it."
2. This paragraph is immediately followed by another
which reads:-
" Both Prime Ministers condemned and rejected all
forms of colonialism, neo-colonialism, apartheid and
racial discrimination."
3. In the fifteenth paragraph, beginning " In turn the
Australian Prime Minister received with interest..."
the second sentence beginning " These developments..."
now reads:-
" These developments underline the importance
attached to the Valasco Doctrime in promoting the
development of Latin American countries by
limiting military expenditures which have warlike
and offensive purposes and by devoting the greatest
means possible to their national development."