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"
B1) 2/3/10: SPEECH BY H.E. LT. GEN. SERETSE KHAMA IAN KHAMA PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA AT A DINNER HOSTED BY GOVERNOR GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, H.E. MS. QUENTIN BRYCE, HELD IN CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
1. Your Excellency, the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Mr. Bryce; The Honourable Bob McMullan MP, representing the Prime Minister, Mr. Stuart Roberts MP, representing the Leader of the Opposition HE Mr. Rajab M. Sukayri, Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;
2. I wish to express my gratitude for the warm hospitality Your Excellency has extended to me and my delegation.
3. Let me also take this opportunity, Your Excellency to express my appreciation to you for paying a historic and memorable visit to Botswana as Head of State of the Commonwealth of Australia, in March last year. Your visit has certainly left an indelible mark in the memories of the people of Botswana, particularly with those whom you had occasion to interact.
4. I wish in particular, to convey to you, Your Excellency, the sincere appreciation and affection of all those hearts that you touched during your visit, especially those children who had the opportunity to welcome you on your arrival at the airport. They still have fond memories of the kind words you exchanged with them.
5. Similarly, the SOS children in Tlokweng Village whom you honoured with your visit still cherish the comforting moments you shared with them. The donation you offered to the SOS Village has contributed towards meeting the needs of these children. We are indeed very grateful for this act of goodwill and generosity.
6. I wish to also express my deep appreciation for the kind invitation Your Excellency has extended to me to visit Australia, being only the second time I have been here. The first time ever was to the Sidney Olympics in 2000. For me it was a very memorable occasion as I came into contact for the first time with the determination of the Australian people to make the games a success that they deserved. The spirit of volunteerism I encountered from people from every walk of life is why I believe you are both a major leader on the world stage in sports and indeed in many other fields.
7. The games certainly deserved to be the best ever, an achievement that still has to be surpassed by others. This visit offers me and my delegation a good opportunity to tap on the experience and expertise of one of the most successful countries in the world. Your country's great achievements have always been a source of inspiration to our own development endeavours.
8. Your Excellency, Botswana and Australia enjoy cordial and fraternal relations. Our friendship is founded on the shared values of democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is these values and the commonality of interests that define the character of our Governments and peoples and have guided our relations at international fora.
9. In this regard, I wish to commend your Government for the proactive role it continues to play in promoting these values and interests.
10. In addition to the positive leadership role played by Australia in the issues of the environment and climate change, we wish to commend your country's contribution to regional and international peace.
11. We are very much aware of the role you play in the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East and elsewhere. Your stance on Zimbabwe is commendable and we believe the only permanent solution is the conduct of free and fair general elections so that the people of that country can choose their own leaders. Our continent has been plagued over the years by one man rule that goes on for decades and still does, where self interest is given priority over the interests of the population plagued by politicians who think that they are God's gift to their nations and should have the sole right to be their leaders and go on to use their position to amass wealth whilst the majority live in poverty. We will always value you as partners in bringing about true democracy and good governance so as to best serve the interests of all citizens as per their expectations.
12. During your visit to Botswana, I expressed the appreciation of my country and its people for the goodwill, friendship and support of the Government and the people of Australia. Tonight, I wish to reiterate those sentiments. Botswana greatly values Australia as a friend, and as a partner in development.
13. You can thus count on the support of my country in your efforts to promote democracy, peace and humanitarian causes around the world, including the quest to safeguard the future of our planet.
14. In concluding my remarks, let me once again thank Your Excellency for the warm reception you accorded me and my delegation. I look forward, during my stay in your country, to sampling the character and wellbeing of the people of Australia. We shall certainly take home the good memories of this visit as a benchmark for the betterment of our country.
15. May I please request you to join me in drinking a toast to the good health of Her Majesty the Queen and the People of Australia. P U L A !!
>From the Governor-General's of the Commonwealth of Australia's Program of the 2nd of March 2010
In the evening, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE hosted a State Dinner in honour of the President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama. Guests included: His Excellency Mr Molosiwa Selepeng; the Honourable Phandu T.C Skelemani; Mr Newman Kahiya; Colonel Duke Masilo; Ms Daphne Kadiwa; Her Excellency the Right Honourable Baroness Valerie Amos; Dr Nick Austin; Ms Sheridan Maher; Mr Peter Baxter and Ms Lynette Wood; Professor Rosalind Croucher and Professor John Croucher; Mr Robert Delane; Deputy Commissioner Peter Drennen and Mrs Fiona Drennen; Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM and Mrs Lisa Fitzsimmons; the Honourable Chief Justice Robert French AC; Professor Peter Fricker OAM and Mrs Robyn Fricker; Major General Steve Gower AO (Retd) and Mrs Heather Gower; Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC and Mrs Liz Houston; Senator Gary Humphries and Mrs Cathie Humphries; the Honourable Bob McMullan MP; Mr Charles Millward and Mrs Anne Millward; Mr Lindsay Reed and Mrs Jenny Reed; Mr Bill Repard and Ms Jane Prendiville; Mr Dennis Richardson AO and Mrs Betty Richardson; Mr Stuart Robert MP; Professor Nicholas Saunders and Mrs Kath Saunders; Mr Alby Schultz MP and Mrs Gloria Schultz; His Excellency Mr Rajab M. Sukayri and Mrs Nehad Sukayri.
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