MEDIA RELEASE  MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS  ALEXANDER DOWNER

FA56

AUSTRALIA THROUGH THE EYES OF INDIA  28 June 1996

I am delighted to release a new publication, 'Australia Through the Eyes ofIndia -New  Horizons' w hich underlines this Government's commitment to developing a closer  relationship with India. Although the research on which this book is based reveals limited  awareness of Australian capabilities as a supplier of sophisticated goods and services it also  demonstrates a strong foundation on which we can build.

The publication , which examines perceptions of Australia among India's business  community, presents qualitative research into how Indian decision makers see Australia. It is  based on interviews with senior representatives of Indian business, government, academics  and the media and examines perceptions and misperceptions of Australia and Australian  business.

The research provides the underpinnings for a strategy of increased promotion of Australia in  India. As a first step towards updating our image in India my Government is undertaking a  major promotion in India in the next few months called 'Australia-India -New Horizons'  w here we w ill demonstrate what we have to offer in education, science and technology, as  we ll as arts and culture .

The research findings suggest that much work needs to be done to raise Australia's profile in  India as a supplier of advanced technology and sophisticated goods and services. According  to the study, Australian business people are perceived in a positive light as open, informal and  willing to listen. There is considerable goodwill towards Australians " But the research  suggests perceptions of Australia do not extend beyond our traditional profile as a primary  industry-based economy and an exporter of commodities

The principal findings of the research are:

" A ustralia is perceived to be remote, with a small, politically stable population , rich in  natural resources , wealthy and economically developed.

" Australia's focus on Asia is viewed positi vely, but with disappointment that India has  been left out.

" Compa red with decision makers in East Asia, there are far fewer Indian decision  makers with a comprehensive or even a limited knowledge of Australia. Far fewer  Indians have studied in A ustralia or visited for business or tourism. As a result,  unlike East Asia, there is almost no awareness of Australian icons, including tourist  Icons.

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" The majority ofIndians are unaware of Australia's capabilities as a supplier of high " value-added goods and services. It is assumed that Australia has no locally based  research and development. Australia ranks behind several other countries as a  potential source of sophisticated gOOGS and services.

" Nonetheless, Australia is seen in a positive light and is considered to share many  things in common with India such as the English language, parliamentary democracy,  similar legal systems and, above all, cricket, the one area in which Australia is well . .  known. Australia is recognised as a multicultural and tolerant society .

" The target audience is comfortable with its existing images of Australia and at the  moment there is no motivation to reconsider those perceptions.

The publication includes a chapter that corrects some of the misperceptions that Indians have  about Australia. It highlights that despite Australia's small population, our per capita GDP is  one of the highest in the region, and is greater than the combined per capita GDPs of China,  Korea, Indonesia, the Phillipines , Thailand and Malaysia. Australia's GDP is only  marginally less than than of all ASEAN nations combined. Australia has the fourth largest  consumer economy in the Asian region, comparable to that of China and the ROK.

The publication also highlights that Australia has a tradition of producing innovative  breakthroughs including the mechanical refrigeration plant, the grain stripper harvester, the  car radio, the atomic absorption spectrophotometer, the 'black box' flight recorder, the bionic  ear and a major breakthrough in lightning protection.

The research was commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and  conducted through the Australian research company Diagnostic & Creative Workshop  (DCW) working with a local Indian research group. Copies of the publication can be  obtained from Australian Government Bookshops.

Further Information:  Mr Alexander Downer 's Office:  Market Australia , Canberra  Australia India Promotion Section

Peter Collins  Rebecca Weisser  David Hallett

(06) 277 7500  (06) 261 2912  (06) 261 3917

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ENDING THE SCOURGE OF LANDMINES

Closing Speech of Hon Alexander Downer MP, Minister for Foreign  Affairs, at a photographic exhibition by the International Campaign to Ban  Landmines, Adelaide, 28 June 1996

I would like to thank Sr Cynthia Griffin and all those associated with the  International Campaign to Ban Landmines for the invitation to speak here  today.

These stark photographs are a powerful reminder of the scourge of  landmines, those insidious weapons which kill or maim some 26,000 people a  year.

Good art, as William Yeats said, is a vision of reality. This exhibition of  photographs taken by John Rodsted shows us art at its best stirring the  consciences of all who have come here and prompting us to action .

I think the issue of land mines is one of concern to all Australians.

I received, both in opposition and in government an enormous amount of  correspondence from people urging Australia to take a leadership position at  the Inhumane Weapons Convention which met in Geneva in April.

After the election, in line with the Governmenfs election platform, I called  for a review of Australia's policy on landmines.

As a result of that review, I was pleased to announce, along with my  colleague, the :Minister for Defence, Mr McLachlan, that Australia would  support a total ban on the production, stockpiling, use and transfer of  landmines and would implement a unilateral suspension on the operational  use of landmines. "

This was an historic achievement far exceeding the policy of the past  Government and daring to take Australia to the forefront of the international  community's efforts to rid the world of these weapons.

Australia's position also helped change the whole dynamics of the debate  internationally.

A number of countries have now followed in our wake -including Germany,  New Zealand and, to a limited extent:, the United Kingdom.

On the 16 May, one month after Australia's announcement:, President Clinton  announced that the United States, too, would work for a global ban on  antipersonnel land mines.

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This is a less qualified and more committed stance than previously taken by  the United States.

While the United States has not gone as far as Australia in promoting its  interim measures -it has not banned or suspended altogether antipersonnel  landmines use by its armed forces-its new policy does bring the considerable  power and influence of the United States behind the campaign for a total ban  on antipersonnellandmines.

There were some positive, if also, limited outcomes from this first ever  review of the Inhumane Weapons Convention. These were due in no small  part to Australia's efforts and were achieved in the face of strong opposition  from those countries which declined to support a total ban.

In particular, the conference produced a forward-looking declaration and an  enhanced review mechanism through which Australia will continue to  pursue the goal of a total ban with urgency and vigour.

This Australia will do in international fora such as the next United Nations  General Assembly session later this year.

Yet this modest success is not enough. Much more needs to be done.

As well as continuing to work diplomatically, the Australian Government  has increased its efforts to do something practical to tackle head on the  humanitarian disaster posed by these weapons whose legacy is shown so  graphically in the photos exhibited here.

Only last month, I announced, L'1. fulfilment of the Coalition's election  commitment a de-mining program for Cambodia and Laos worth $12  million over three years.

This package of assistance includes

-$9 million over three years for the United Nation's Development Program  and Cambodian Mines Action Centre;

-$800,000 for Australian Defence Force technical assistance to CMAC,  including three technical advisers and one communications expert;

-$2.1 million for unexploded ordinance clearance in Laos  and activities in landmines clearance and support for landmines victims in  Cambodia;

I am pleased to say that this contribution makes Australia one of the major  donors to UN-sponsored de-mining and bomb clearance efforts in the region.

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De-mining is critical for the future of these and the many other countries  plagued with landmines.

These buried weapons keep countries such as Cambodia in poverty because  land cannot be used and because people's lives are destroyed.

Money that could be used for development has to be spent to provide  medical aid and food aid to those affected by mines.

The effect of Australia's efforts are perhaps most clearly expressed in a letter  recently sent to me by the First Prime Minister of Cambodia, Prince  Ranariddh who in thanking Australia for our contribution to de-mining said,  "this multi-year commitment to demining and other mine-related activities in  Cambodia will not only save Cambodian lives and injuries, but it will also  contribute towards Cambodia to pursue its efforts in the fields of  reconstruction, rehabilitation and development"

I am very glad of this letter.

It shows that Australia's humane and practical stance has sent a ripple of  hope to the victims of landmines and their families.

And it strengthens the Government's resolve to continue Australia's decisive  role in mobilising the strong wave of international support to rid the world of  these appalling weapons once and for all.

In concluding, can I encourage you to maintain your dedication and  commitment

I hope that you will encourage others to join with you in your anti-Iandmines  campaign within the Australian community and, just as importantly, in  countries abroad.

As I formally close this photo exhibition, I assure you the Australian  Government will do all it can to eradicate this scourge.

