No. M56 Date 26 August 1977

DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS

.  The Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs,  Mr Ian Sinclair,

today announced the appointment of Sir James Plimsoll,  C.B.E.,  as Australia's new Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the  European Communities.

Sir James,  at present Australia's Ambassador to the .   Soviet Union, will take up his appointment in Brussels in  late September. .

The Acting Minister also announced the appointment  of Dr J.W.C. Cumes as Australia's new Ambassador to Austria  and Hungary,  and Permanent Representative to the International  Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to the United Nations Industrial  Development Organisation (UNIDO).

Dr Cumes is at present Australia's Ambassador in  Brussels. He will take up his appointment in Vienna shortly,   succeeding Mr R.W. Furlonger who has returned to Australia  to head the Office of National Assessments.

Mr Sinclair said that the appointment of Sir James,   one of Australia's most distinguished diplomats,  as Ambassador  in Brussels,  reflected the value Australia placed.on its  bilateral relations with Belgium and Luxembourg,  which it

looked forward to developing further. The appointment was  also important in terms of Australia's relations with the  European. Communities. The EC had developed an international  personality of major importance,  it was Australia's second

largest trading partner,  and exercised considerable influence  in international economic forums.

Sir James Plimsoll,  60, a graduate of the University  of Sydney,  has been Australia's Ambassador in Moscow since  1974. From 1970 to 1974 Sir James was Ambassador in Washington .   and for the five years before that Secretary of the then  Department of External Affairs. Earlier he had served as High  Commissioner in New Delhi and Australia's Ambassador Lo the  United Nations in New York. Â·

Regarding Australia's representation in Vienna, Mr Sinclair said that the Government attached considerable  importance to its relations with Austria and Hungary.

.  .  ./2

2.

.  Noting that Dr Cumes appointments in Vienna included

the IAEA, Mr Sinclair remarked that Australia was placing  increasing emphasis on its participation in the International  Atomic Energy Agency, and on the Agency's crucial role in  relation to international safeguards against nuclear proliferation.

Dr Cumes,  55, a graduate of the Universities of  Queensland and London, has had considerable experience in . international economic affairs. He has been Australia's  Ambassador to Brussels since 1975 and before that was head .

of the then Economic Relations Division of the Depart merit of Foreign  Affairs. He is a former High Commissioner to Nigeria.

