' 1 TEL: J21. un. 93 14: 49 No. 016 P. 01/ 02
T EL
PRIME MINISTER
TRAIISCRIPF OF INTERVLEW WITH PRIME MNISTER FOLLOWING
MEETING WITH PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG-SAM, SHILLA HOTEL,
SEOULO KCOREA, 21/ 6/ 93
PH: Well I've just come away from a very convivial
discussion with President Kim Young-sam, a long and
Interesting meeting vwhere I think we found such
common ground on many issues. We had a broad
discussion about our relationship between our two
countries, the context we york in in tre Asia
Pacific, various janUes which relate to North Asia,
in particular that is, the relationship on the
Korean Peninsula. Various problems vith the North, a
discussion abot the nuclear issue, their relations
with other countries In the region China and
Japan and ours, APBC and its prospects. In all a
very truitful conversation which 1' ll be happy to
qIve you more details about at the press conference
later.
J; Prime Minister is Australian business doing enough
to get into this rapidly growing market do you
think?
PX; Well We've rmt done that such, either countryl, in
terms of Investment compared to say other countries
ot the area. And yet we are natural partners. Korea
In already a customer for a very large proportion of
our mineral exports and we can do much ore
together. The complementary nature of the economies
is really quite profound. So, I think they see
Australia having particular advantages, not just as
a raw material supplier, but as a provider of
services and also our skills in sUch things as
telecommunications, water quality, the environmental
sciences, computer sciences and services
education services, tourism. There is I think
tremendous potential between these two countries and
maybe veve been late in the piece discovering It,
but I think certainly the President understands
that, a e e2
TEL:' 21. jun. 93 14: 49 No. 016 P. 02/ 02
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3: you raisa" the isue of the republic in the speech
at lunch time. Peter Reith's nov Saying only a
tolken debate, John Rewson' a back ing off at a hundred.
miles ani hour. Isn't this rather bad ne for you?
PK: gor X think that it may not in the first Instance be
good ses for Autralia. I mean, you're not seeing
the ladrship from the Oppoition on any of these
subjects. mr Reith regards hivself an a champion
* soler on constitutional referenda. Let me tell you
I may this to the Liberal Party advisedly -he
was the Labor Party's, beat asset in the last fifteen
to eighteen months. No wat withouat a shadow of a
doubt throughi all our plling and everything
else M r Reith was wn iquously Labr's best
asset. Nov. whenever he wish*$ to come to the
leadership of the Liberal Party ye will, of course,
be over the soon.
As far as Dr Howson is cncerned, Dr Hewson has an
opportunity to show some real form on a matter which
the High Court has made a decision about and t6 put
down the crude and primitive remarks of the leader
of the National Party -he's obviously in a
position way beyond his capacities in life -and
also to make it clear on the matter that Australia
not should, but must, become a sovereign country
where its head of state is an Australian, on that
there must be leadership from the Liberal Party and
if it's not first Instance it will have to come
later.
ends.