FOR MEDIA 12 JULY 1986
JOINT STATEE-NT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR HAWKE, AND THE
PRESIDENT 07? THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, DR ALFONSIN
This first v sit to Australia by a Head of State from Latin
America has provided the opportunity for very friendly and useful
discussionG. Although our two countries are geographically
distant we are both democracies with important common interests
on major international issues and recognise the potential which
exists for ethanced bilateral co-operation.
we share deep concerns with recent developments in international
agricultural. trade. Both our countries are efficient agricultural
producers anm] exporters, but largely as a consequence of donostic
agriculturai support policies in the major industrial powers we
are seeing ccntinual erosion of and distortions in our
agriculturt~ l export markets, highlighted by a sharp and
protracted declne in prices for most of our agricultural
products. There is a crucial need to liberalise international trade, to
reduce agricultural export subsidies and to bring about reform of
domestic agrJ, 6-ultural policies, particularly of the major
industrial powers, which stimulate over production through
subsidies and barriers to market access.
we are in complete agreement on the urgency and importance of
launching the new round of multilateral Trade Negotiations where
the question of agricultural trade must be effectively addressed
as a priority issue. we also recognise that countries dependent
on agriculture for their livelihood cannot wait the outcome of
these negotiations alone and that there is a need to develop
strategies to be pursued jointly and individually to achieve
agricultural trade reform. Our Ministers and officials will
continue to co-ordinate our approaches to these issues. Argentina
will participate in the Ministerial meeting of like-minded
agricultural producers to be held in Cairns next month as part of
this procesG.
An open intornational trading system, which provides the
opportunity to obtain reasonable and fair prices for exports is
essential if international financial problems are to be overcome
and domestic cconomic growth encouraged. This is, in turn, of
great importance to reinforce the very welcome trend towards
democracy which is taking place in Latin America, and of which
Argentina has been a prime example.
2
We agreed on the need to find a solution to the problems of the
foreign debt of developing countries, especially those of Latin
America, which would enable the strengthening of democratic
systems by means of oconomic growth, and Australia noted the
efforts made by the " Consensus of Cartagena" in that respect.
We also had a wide Tanging discussion of international political
issues. We believe thiat a solution to the problems of Central
America should lie in international negotiation and
democratisation ard fully endorse the Contadora process,
including the work of the Contadora Support Group of which
Argentina is a member. Argentina attaches great importance to the
question of the Falkland Islands ( Malvinas). We are each of the
view that this complex question should be solved peacefully
through negotiation. On the tragic trend of events in South
Africa we agreed that further and effective measures by the
international community are essential, including on the part of
South Africa's major economic partners, to bring home to the
Government there the urgent need for fundamental change. We also
reaffirmed the high priority we attach to disarmament issues.
1oth countries have been increasingly active in this area, for
example Argentina's participation in the Six Nations initiative
and Australia's initiative on the South Pacific Nuclear Free
Zone. We noted anO supported increasing regional co-operation in
both the Asia/ Paclft: and Latin American areas. We agreed to
continue close co.-o'aration on Antarctic issues.
We discussed the potential for closer co-operation between
southern region nations, and in that respect agreed that
officials of the two countries would meet to explore the means of
achieving this co-. oparation. We also talked about Argentina's
participation in tha Australian Bicentennial and Australia's
willingness to cont: ibute its expertise to the planned transfer
of Argentina's capital city. We recognised the scope for enhanced
commercial co-operation.
Our discussions entablish a firm foundation for a closer
relationship than has existed hitherto between Australia and
Argentina, both bilaterally and on international questions of
common concern.