Australia and the United States have agreed to a treaty allowing Australia better access to United States defence equipment.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard made the announcement at a
joint press conference in Sydney with US President George Bush, who
arrived in Australia on Tuesday night ahead of the Apec leaders'
meeting.
The two leaders met for talks on Wednesday morning at Howard's
Sydney offices.
Howard said he and Bush had talked about the war situation in Iraq
at a meeting during which they canvassed a wide range of
topics.
"We had a broad-ranging discussion," Howard told reporters,
standing alongside Bush. "We talked extensively about Iraq, about
climate change aspects
of Apec, the American perception towards conditions in the Middle
East and in relation to Iran.
"And also the prospects for something we both hope for - and that
is a lasting settlement between Israel and the Palestinian people
which does justice to the right of the Israelis to exist unmolested
as a free and proud nation, and also the right of the people of
Palestine to have a homeland."
Howard said he and Bush had discussed a number of vital issues
at earlier talks.
"On a bilateral basis we have agreed to a number of new
arrangements including a treaty relating to exchanges concerning
defence equipment which effectively will remove layers of
bureaucracy for defence industries in Australia acquiring American
technology," he said.
"We enter that market on the same basis as do companies coming from
the United Kingdom."
Howard announced a new programme that will see almost 15,000
young Australians travel to the United States every year.
"We have entered arrangements that will allow something in the
order of 15,000, we estimate, young Australians who are students or
graduates to visit the United States on the basis of some kind of
gap year in their studies," Howard said.
"That will be a facility available in the United States which is
currently available and very widely utilised by young Australians
in the United Kingdom and other European countries."
Howard said Australia had no closer alliance than that with the
United States.
He first met Mr Bush in the US on September 10, 2001, the day
before the al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington.
"As a consequence of that meeting and the horrific events that
horrifically followed the (next) day, the paths of our two
countries have been parallel in so many ways in the fight against
terrorism and the promotion of democracy and freedom around the
world," Howard said.
He said he and Bush had agreed to a joint nuclear action plan
which involves cooperation on civil nuclear energy, including
research and development, skills and training and regulatory
issues.
The United States would also back Australia's bid to become a
member of an international forum to develop next generation nuclear
energy systems.
"Australia intends to participate in the global nuclear energy
partnership and there'll be great benefits in terms of access to
nuclear technology and non-proliferation," Howard said.
The prime minister said he and the president had also agreed on
joint statements on climate change and energy. Bush said he had
real trust in Howard.
"I admire your vision and I admire your courage," the US president
said, turning to Howard.
In international diplomacy, Bush said, it is important to know a
leader is being honest.
"And the thing I appreciate about dealing with Prime Minister
Howard is well, you know where he stands.
"You don't have to read nuance into his words and when he tells you
something he stands by his word and I thank you for that."
Bush said the US would not be involved in either Afghanistan or
Iraq if he did not think he could win the battle.
"If I didn't think we could succeed we wouldn't have put troops
there," he said.
"As the commander in chief of our military, I cannot commit US
troops into combat unless I'm convinced it is worth it for the
importance to the security of the United States and we can meet our
objectives."
