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Australia's Foreign and Trade Polic



Subject: Australia's Foreign and Trade Policy White Paper


		Australia's Foreign and Trade Policy White Paper
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Chapter (1) National Interest
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Human rights
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26. The Government views human rights as an inseparable  part of Australia's 
overall foreign policy approach, both because the  treatment  of human 
beings is a matter of concern to Australians and because promoting 
and protecting human rights underpins Australia's broader security and 
economic interests. The Government's human rights policies are based on the 
universality of fundamental human rights - civil, political, economic, 
social and cultural.

27. There are grounds for some confidence that human  rights improve with 
economic growth. Respect for human rights is generally a  force for 
stability, not least because it tends to moderate political behaviour. 
At the same time, the relationship between economic growth and political 
freedoms is a complex one and should not be reduced to a simple equating of 
economic growth with political liberalisation.

28. The Government recognises that, on occasions, support  for human 
rights will create difficulties in Australia's bilateral relationships, 
including in our commercial relations. The best means of managing such 
difficulties is to focus on practical measures and to address human 
rights concerns in the context of a sound overall bilateral relationship. 
Linking human rights to trade serves neither Australia's trade nor its 
human rights interests.

29. Australia must be realistic in assessing what can and  cannot be 
achieved in pursuing particular human rights issues. The objective of 
human rights policy should be to make a difference on human rights, not to 
posture. In promoting human rights, the Government's priority is practical 
efforts that can directly improve the human rights situation on the 
ground. These include development cooperation programs, assisting in 
establishing national human rights machinery, encouraging bilateral, 
regional and multilateral discussion of human rights issues, and working 
to develop and strengthen the effectiveness of regional and international 
human rights institutions and instruments. 

30. An important practical approach to improving human  rights is to 
support the development of human rights institutions. A growing  number 
of countries, including within the Asia Pacific region, have established 
national institutions with responsibility for protecting and promoting 
human rights and the rule of law. Australia supports these bodies through 
training and shared expertise, and through the informal Asia Pacific 
Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. The Government is funding 
the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to provide a 
secretariat for the Forum. 

31. The Government is committed to the establishment of a Centre for 
Democratic Institutions that would focus on fostering the development of 
democratic processes and institutions, especially in the  Asia Pacific 
region. This would involve providing practical training and technical 
assistance relating to issues such as electoral and parliamentary 
procedures, as well as the rule of law.
                
The Government also strongly supports creating an  International Criminal 
Court. This would be an important step forward for the  international 
community in dealing with serious offences such as genocide, war  crimes 
and crimes against humanity. 

Chapter (4) Bilateral Relationships: The Basic Building Block
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East Asia
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164. Australia's relations with the Association of South East Asian 
Nations (ASEAN) as a grouping, and with its member states (Brunei 
Darussalam, Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, 
Thailand and Vietnam), are central to Australia's engagement with the 
region. ASEAN has contributed enormously to the growth and influence of 
South East Asia, and it is likely to continue to play a key role in the 
emerging regional order. The ASEAN states constitute a high-growth market 
of almost 500 million people with a combined GDP comparable with that of 
China. 

165. The Government will work further to build its  relationship with 
ASEAN, both through Australia's connections with the grouping,  and 
through stronger bilateral ties with individual member states, including 
with Burma once it has instituted genuine political and human rights 
reforms. In this endeavour, the Government will take advantage of the 
existing broad base of education, trade, investment, political and 
defence links. The Government will give priority to developing links 
between AFTA and CER, as well as working closely with individual ASEAN 
countries, both as an ASEAN dialogue partner, and within broader regional 
forums such as APEC and the ARF. 

[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, 28 August 1997]

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        News and Information Dept.
        All Burma Students' Democratic Organisation (ABSDO) [Australia]
        Tel/Fax: 61+03+98132613

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