More on H.E. President Khama in Australia

source: Republic of Botswana (14/3/10) TAUTONA TIMES no 4 of 2010
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery"

C2) MORE ON H.E. PRESIDENT KHAMA IN AUSTRALIA

C2a) 1/3/10: FROM BOTSWANA PRESS AGENCY - H.E. THE PRESIDENT VISITS AUSTRALIA

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama starts a four day visit in Australia today. While in Australia, President Khama is expected to hold bilateral meetings with governor general of the Commonwealth of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AC and the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd.

President Khama is also scheduled to tour the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, which was opened in 1941 and houses a large collection of pictures and information about the wars the country has taken part in, such as the first and second world wars, Korean and South African wars.

Other meetings by President Khama include talks with the governor of New South Wales (NSW), Professor Marie Bashir, a visit to the NSW Rural Fire Services and meeting with Batswana students in Sydney.

A press statement released by the Australian government states that Botswana and Australia share a warm and productive relationship, with growing linkages in trade, investment and education and an expanding programme of development assistance.

Meanwhile, Ms Bryce AC paid a two-day visit to Botswana last March at the invitation of President Khama. The two countries established bilateral relations in February 2003 and they currently enjoy cordial relations and cooperate on a wide range of fields including human resource development, agriculture, fire management and sport.

There are about 500 Batswana studying in Australia, of which over 200 are on government sponsorship. On the other hand, Botswana is supporting Australia for its bid for membership in the United Nations Security Council.
President Khama is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Phandu Skelemani and permanent secretary, Mr Newman Kahiya.

This is the president's first visit to Australia. He is expected back home on Thursday.

C2b) 28/3/10: STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA ON VISIT BY THE PRESIDENT OF BOTSWANA

The President of the Republic of Botswana, HE Seretse Khama Ian Khama, will visit Australia from 1 to 4 March. Botswana is a long-standing democracy, which has benefited from liberal economic policies and openness to investment. Australia and Botswana share a warm and productive relationship, with growing linkages in trade, investment and education, and an expanding program of development assistance. President Khama's visit to Australia provides a valuable opportunity to increase collaboration on key international and regional matters, including climate change and Zimbabwe, and to discuss new opportunities for economic, political and development cooperation. This is President Khama's first official visit to Australia. He will visit Canberra and Sydney.

C2c) 1/3/10: STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER:

Today, Monday 1 march, I met with President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama of Botswana in Perth.

President Khama is visiting Australia from today until Thursday 4 March as a Guest of the Australian Government. The President will be accompanied by Botswana's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Hon Phandu Skelemani, who visited Canberra in June 2009.

While in Australia, President Khama will meet the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. He will also visit the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the NSW Rural Fire Service.

President Khama's visit to Australia is a further demonstration of the warm and substantive relationship between Botswana and Australia.

It follows an official visit by the Governor-General to Botswana in 2009. I also visited Botswana in January this year, the first visit by an Australian Foreign Minister to Botswana. During this visit I announced Australia would provide a further $500,000 in fire management assistance to support training by the NSW Rural Fire Service and $250,000 to build capacity in quarantine and plant bio-security.

Today, President Khama and I discussed the strong partnership between our two countries, including in the areas of education, agriculture and bushfire prevention and management. We also discussed shared concerns regarding the situation in Zimbabwe. Botswana has played an important role within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) calling for reform in Zimbabwe.

While in Botswana I visited the headquarters of SADC - the first Australian Foreign Minister to do so.

C2D) 2/3/10: AAP REPORT - "BOTSWANA BACKS AUST ON SECURITY COUNCIL"

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has welcomed Botswana's support for an Australian seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council, following a meeting with President Seretse Khama Ian Khama in Canberra.

Mr Rudd and Mr Khama held talks at The Lodge on Monday, which they said symbolised the growing bilateral relationship and genuine friendship between the two countries. Top of the agenda was Australia's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, which Botswana has backed.

"The president noted that Australia's active involvement in international affairs meant it was well placed to make a strong contribution to the work of the Security Council," Mr Rudd said in a statement after the meeting.

Australia and Botswana agreed they both wanted to see a global commitment to tackle climate change and expressed their concern about the difficulties facing Botswana's troubled neighbour, Zimbabwe.

Mr Rudd and Mr Khama said that while there had been some progress since the formation of Zimbabwe's inclusive government, there remained an urgent need for further reforms in governance, the rule of law and human rights. The leaders would consider further opportunities to assist Zimbabwe's people.

Finally, Australia and Botswana agreed to encourage expanded trade and investment links, through education, tourism and natural resources.

Mr Rudd said he looked forward to working closely with Mr Khama in preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth next year. © 2010 AAP