P. FOR MEDIA FRIDAY, APRIL 24 1981
OPENING OF THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA HIGH COMMISSION
I am honoured to be invited to participate on this historic
and symbolic occasion.
Hich Commissioner Mr Sapias, thank you for asking me to join
you at your Chancery at your country's High Commission today.
Sir Julius, I have been delighted to welcome you and your
daughter personally to Canberra and to say how welcome
also are your distinguished colleagues and the senior
representatives of your country who have done us the honour
of being here today.
You and I, Sir Julius and our Foreign Ministers will
later today be exchanging views on bilateral and international
issues of current interest to our two countries. I look
forward to being with you again later in the year-at the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Melbourne.
Australians are delighted by the fact that this is the first
office which your Government has had specially designed and
constructed in countries where you have diplomatic representation.
This is an honour for Australia an honour which my Government
recognises and very much appreciates. We interpret your
decision as one which deliberately symbolises the importance
your Government places on our relationship. For our part,
my Government will continue to attach the highest importance
to that relationship.
I congratulate all those whose imagination, careful planning,
and practical construction skills have contributed to these
buildings. The use of traditional Papua New Guinea design
combined with functional simplicity has produced a
diplomatic mission of striking beauty and one which contribut~ es
gracefully to the Canberra scene.
You have done us proud. The location of your High Commission
amongst those of our friends and colleagues from Britain,
New Zealand, Canada and Malaysia is symbolic of some very
important strands in the foreign policies of our two countries.. / 2
2
There is firstly our association in the Commonwealth,
a unique organisation which has long proved its ability
to bring together leaders of a wide range of countries in
consultation and in development of practical co-operation.
There is the priority we both accord to close co-operation
with our South Pacific neighbours.
Prime Minister, High Commissioner: This is a day of
achievement in which we can feel great satisfaction.
It is a day of celebration in which I know all your
Australian friends here are delighted to join.
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