PM Transcripts

PRIMIEN IS4)
FOR MEDIA 6 DECEMBER 1991
I am pleased that President George Vassiliou of Cyprus has
accepted my invitation to visit Australia and will be here
from 10-18 December.
I will be meeting President Vassiliou for discussions and
hosting a Parliamentary lunch in his honour on 11 December.
He will also meet with other Cabinet Ministers. The
Governor-General will receive President Vassiliou later that
day. The visit provides an opportunity to discuss the progrress of
negotiations on Cyprus. Australia supports a peaceful, just
and long-lasting solution, in accordance with UN Security
Council Resolutions on this matter. We believe the best
opportunity for achieving such a result is negotiations
under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General.
I also wish to discuss developments in the middle East and
Europe with the President, given Cyprus's unique
geographical position in relation to both those regions.
President Vassiliou will hold talks with State Governments
in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Relations between our two countries have always been close,
and Australia is home to many people of Cypriot origin.
The visit will focus on the Cypriot community here in
Australia and business links between our two countries.
President Vassiliou will visit Cypriot communities in
Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, and address meetings of the
Melbourne chapter of Australian Business in Europe ( ABIE)
and the Council for Europe in Sydney during his visit.
An engagement at the National Press Club is scheduled for
Friday 13 December.
President Vassiliou will be accompanied by Foreign Minister
George Iacovou.
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