D E P A R T M E N T  O F  F O R E I G N  A F F A I R S

C A N B E R R A , A .C .T . 2 6 0 0

M2 7 25 January 1980

EMBARGOED UNTIL  2000 EST

AMBASSADOR TO THE NETHERLANDS

The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs,  Mr Ian Viner,   today announced the appointment of Dr J.W.C. Cumes as Australia's  Ambassador t o ;The Netherlands.

Dr Cumes,  57, is at present Australian Ambassador to  Austria and Hungary and Permanent Representative to the  International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United  Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). He wili

succeed Sir David Fairbairn K.B.E.,  D.F.C.,  who has been  Ambassador since 1977. '

The Acting Minister noted the close relations which .   exist between Australia and The Netherlands and expressed  appreciation of the contribution of Sir David Fairbairn and  Lady Fairbairn during their three years in The Netherlands. The Acting Minister also expressed confidence that Dr Cumes1   appointment would see a continuation of the existing'high Â· level of co-operation between the two countries.

