CH{ ECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MISTR OF AUSTRALIA
THE HON R J L HAWKE AC MP
BANQUET DINN( ER HOSTED BY CHANCELLOR KOHL
BONN THURSDAY 29 JUNE 1989
I am delighted to be in Bonn, Mr Chancellor, to return your
visit to Australia last October, for our Australian
Bicentenary; and it is a very great pleasure to be able to
renew our friendship and resume our discussions so soon.
Your visit, the first ever by a Federal Chancellor,
represented a milestone in the relations between our two
countries. There is clearly a growing awareness in both
countries of the mutual value of our even broader
co-operation at all levels. That is the goal of my vst
It is a goal I k~ now you share.
It is, Mr chancellor, an invigorating indeed inspiring
experience to be here at such a momentous period in the
history of the peoples of Europe. In such an historic, and
so hopeful a process, Germany stands centre stage.
Today, a revitalised Germany, transformed in forty years by
the energy and determination of its people, is playing a
pivotal role in Europe and in East-West relations. The
German economy exerts a tremendous influence in the world
economic system. There is renewed interest in the rich
heritage of German culture and language.
Mr Chancellor,
In coming here to renew and extend our relationship, I build
on very long and strong human associations between our
peoples.
= F! rom the earliest days ,7; rEuropean settlement, people of
German origin have made a valuable contribution to
Australian life. For the first hundred and fifty years,
German people and their descendants formed by far our
largest community of non-Anglo-Celtic origin. Today, in our
richly diverse and vibrant multicultural society, they
remain a vital and valued part.
PRIME MINISTER A
Jot
Now, both our countries are vigorous Federal democracies.
Now, we share a deep commitment to parliamentary democracy
and the rule of law. Now both countries draw a significant
part of our economic strength and political stability from
the contribution of strong, free and responsible trade union
movements. Both our countries are committed members of the Western
Alliance. We have each made a contribution to more
constructive relations between East and West in our
respective regions. We co-operate closely with each other,
as staunch members of the United Nations, on the great
issues of disarmament and arms control, nuclear
non-proliferation, and human rights. That co-operation is
also now expanding to embrace international environmental
issues. And I refer here in particular to our useful
discussions today on the Antarctic.
When we met in Canberra last year, Mr chancellor, we gave
special attention to encouraging greater contact between our
respective business communities. You were accompanied in
Canberra by a number of leaders of German industry; and I
have now travelling with me distinguished representatives of
Australian industry. Senior officials of our two
governments met in Canberra in early May. for the inaugural
session of annual economic consultations. The very
successful Business Meeting I attended in Cologne yesterday
underlined the potential for the development of a more
dynamic economic relationship between us.
These exchanges are all valuable in identifying
opportunities which our private sectors will, I am sure,
follow up with vigour.
Mr Chancellor, the European Community, particularly the
Federal Republic, as the world's largest exporter, has a
huge stake in a healthy multilateral trading system, and in
the successful outcome of the Uruguay Round.
Australia looks forward to working with the Federal Republic
of Germany in achieving a comprehensive and balanced result.
We welcomed, Mr Chancellor, your personal assurances last
October in Canberra that the European single market, planned
for 1992, will not, as you put it, come to resemble a
fortress. We urge you to continue your efforts to ensure
" that the single rarketW 16 indeed be a free and fair market
place for all.
May I make it very clear, Hr Chancellor, notwithstanding our
caution on specific areas of direct economic concern as we
discussed them with great frankness today, in particular our
concerns over the Common Agricultural Policy Australia
regards the growing unity of Europe as of potentially vast
political importance and benefit. Apart from the economic
importance of a single market of 320 million, European
integration has already transformed the historical political
relationships between the nations of Europe. It has placed
Europe in a position where it can have an even more
influential role in world affairs. These are developments
which we welcome unreservedly.
Mr Chancellor,
Your country has experienced in the sharpest and most direct
way the tensions and the traumas of East-West confrontation.
You have witnessed at first hand the measureless tragedy of
families and neighbours divided by the barriers of fear and
imposed dogmas. Yet we are seeing those barriers coming
down. Today, we are witnessing immensely important changes. in
the Soviet Union, and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, the quest
for economic progress is now being joined to political
reform, enhanced human rights, demands for free expression,
greater openness in the conduct of public affairs as
inevitably it must, as ultimately it will be, everywhere.
For the first time for more than forty years, we are seeing
co-operation from the East in arms control and the search
for resolution to regional conflict.
Mr Chancellor,
Australia pays tribute to the constructive and responsible
role which the Federal Republic, as a key member of NATO,
has played over the years in East-West relations and the
pursuit of arms reductions. Your personal role has been
important indeed constructive, realistic, balanced,
far-seeing.
Australia also, as a member of the Western alliance, is
proud to play its part in maintaining global stability,
while at the same time working unceasingly for progress in
arms control and disarmament.
T-:-refer in this conteie~ d oir-work in favour of a global
ban on chemical weapons and our proposal to hold a
conference of Government and industry representatives on the
trade in chemicals with potential use in the manufacture of
chemical weapons. I look forward to high-level West German
participation in this Conference, by Government and
industry.
Mr Chancellor,
Our talks today have confirmed that the scope for expanded
co-operation between our two countries is excellent. our
Governments are committed to it. So are our business
communities. I am confident this visit, which my wife and
I, together with my Australian colleagues in government and
business, will long remember with warmth and gratitude, will
advance that co-operation substantially-
Hr Chancellor,
There can be na dinphi-w~ b At~ ni at-a riiuial anA r-haiinwjinry
paifz in ene artairs iio Qai. Ly vZ Euzupei, buL of all
humanity. It is nothing less than the turning point of the
nuclear age; and upon the direction we now take, the
decisions we make, depends, quite literally, the future,
indeed, the very existence, of civilisation. Because of
these immense stakes, the responsibilities, challenges, and
opportunities for leadership have never been as great, since
the dawn of the nuclear age. No country in Europe
understands better than Germany how muuch is at stake. It is
that deep understanding on the part of the German people and
leadership, Mr Chancellor, combined with their commitment to
democracy, which provides one of the great sources of hope,
in this new era a bright new hope, for Germany, for
Europe, and for all the friends of Europe and Germany
throughout the world not least the firm friend you
certainly have, in Australia.