D6,
15 February 1995, CONSULAR TRAVEL ADVISORY - SRI LANKA
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has reviewed its Travel Advice for
Sri Lanka issued on 11 October 1994 and advises that, notwithstanding the
current cessation of hostilities, there is a state of emergency in force in the
northern eastern provinces. Travel to these provinces should be avoided.
Road Blocks and other government security measures which may cause some
inconvenience are likely to be encountered.
Australians are advised to exercise due care when travelling in Sri Lanka and
to register their presence with the Australian High Commission, 3 Cambridge
Place, Colombo 7 (Telephone 698767) which is able to provide advice on current
developments.
D7,
20 , February 1995, CONSULAR TRAVEL ADVISORY - ISRAEL AND PALESTINIAN AREAS
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has reviewed its Travel Advice for
Israel issued on 28 July 1994 and advises that travel in the major towns and
tourist areas in Israel does not constitute a serious security risk. However,
Australians should be aware that sporadic violence does occur in Israel,
including Tel Aviv, and in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip where the situation
remains unpredictable.
Visitors to Gaza/Jericho should note that they will come under the jurisdiction
of the newly established Palestinian Authority and, in certain circumstances,
that of Israeli forces. While general movement is permitted, Australians
should keep up to date with current developments and maintain a high level of
personal security awareness.
Australians who visit Israel, the occupied territories and the Palestinian
self-governing areas of Gaza and Jericho, are encouraged to contact the
Australian Embassy, Beit Europa (4th floor), 37 Shaul Hamelech Boulevarde, Tel
Aviv 64928 Israel (Telephone : 03-6950451) for further information.
D8,
27 February 1995, CONSULAR TRAVEL ADVISORY - PAKISTAN
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has reviewed its Travel Advice for
Pakistan issued on 24 August 1994 and advises that there has been a
deterioration in law and order in the city of Karachi as a result of increasing
ethnic and sectarian violence in that city. Security problems continue in
remote rural areas of Pakistan, including the tribal areas along the border
with Afghanistan.
Australian travellers contemplating travel to these parts of Pakistan should
exercise due care at all times and keep themselves informed about
developments.
Australian citizens in Pakistan are encouraged to register their presence and
onward movements with the Australian High Commission in Islamabad (Telephone
(51) 214 902).
D9,
1 March 1995, CONSULAR TRAVEL ADVISORY: CENTRAL AND WESTERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advise that due to instability and
political uncertainty, including in some cases military action, in several
countries in Central and Western Africa, Australian visitors to that region
should exercise due care and maintain a high level of personal security
awareness.
Conditions vary greatly from country to country and can change rapidly within
each country. Australians intending to visit this region should contact the
relevant Australian diplomatic mission for advice on current developments (the
High Commission in Lagos, Nigeria is responsible for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra
Leone, The Gambia, Liberia, Cote d'Ivorie and Senegal, the High Commission in
Nairobi, Kenya for Uganda, Burundi, Southern Sudan and Rwanda, the Embassy in
Paris, France for other Francophone countries, and the High Commission in
Harare, Zimbabwe for Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Angola).
Information is also available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
in Canberra.
D10,
12 March 1995, CONSULAR TRAVEL ADVISORY - PAKISTAN
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has reviewed its Travel Advice for
Pakistan issued on 27 February 1995 and advises that there has been a further
deterioration in law and order in the city of Karachi as a result of increasing
ethnic and sectarian violence in that city. Consequently the Department
suggests that Australian citizens should consider deferring all non-essential
travel to Karachi for the time being.
Security problems continue in remote rural areas of Pakistan, including the
tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan, and Australian travellers
contemplating travel to these parts of the country should exercise due care at
all times and keep themselves informed about developments.
Australian citizens in Pakistan are encouraged to register their presence and
onward movements with the Australian High Commission in Islamabad, Telephone
(51) 214 902.
D12,
26 March 1995, HEAD OF PLO POLITICAL DEPARTMENT TO VISIT AUSTRALIA
Mr Farouk Kaddoumi, the Head of the PLO Political Department and Chairman of
the Board of Governors of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and
Reconstruction (PECDAR) is to make an official visit to Australia from 26 March
to 2 April under the Government's Special Visitors Program.
Farouk Kaddoumi has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine
Liberation Organisation since 1969 and the Head of its Political Department
(its equivalent of a Foreign Ministry) since 1973. In 1994 he was appointed
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Palestinian Economic Council for
Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR) which, in conjunction with
international agencies, coordinates and administers the implementation of
development projects in Gaza and Jericho.
Born in Nablus (in the West Bank) in 1930, Mr Kaddoumi attended school in Jaffa
and then graduated from the American University in Cairo in 1958 with a B.Sc in
economics. Between 1958 and 1966 he gained wide experience working in the
Development Council (Economic section) in Libya, the Ministry of Oil and
Mineral Resources in Saudi Arabia, and the Ministry of Public Health in
Kuwait.
Since 1966 he has devoted himself full-time to working for the Palestine
Liberation Organisation (PLO) where most of his career has been spent
representing that organisation and managing its international relations.
Mr Kaddoumi will arrive in Australia on 26 March to visit Canberra (27-29
March), Melbourne (30 March) and Sydney (31 March-2 April) before departing for
New Zealand on 2 April.
During his visit he will have meetings with the Governor-General, Mr Bill
Hayden, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, the Minister
for Development Cooperation and Pacific Island Affairs, Mr Gordon Bilney, as
well as other political leaders, academics, officers of the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian International Development Assistance
Bureau (AIDAB), business representatives, and members of the Australian Arab
and Palestinian communities.
For further information, please contact:
(for general information) (for interview requests) Gai Brodtmann - DFAT ph: (018) 623 327 Elizabeth O'Neill - DFAT ph: (06) 295 (mobile) (06) 261 3214 (bh) 7419 (ah) (06) 261 3804 (bh)
D13,
3 April 1995, CONSULAR TRAVEL ADVISORY - BAHRAIN
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises that due to recent civil
disturbances in Bahrain, it is likely that violence in public areas will
continue. As a result there may be some restriction of movement of persons on
the island.
Australians therefore should exercise due care when visiting Bahrain and
maintain a high level of personal security awareness. As there is no
Australian Embassy in Bahrain, Australians intending to visit Bahrain may
contact the Australian Embassy in Riyadh, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh, Kingdom
of Saudia Arabia, (Telephone: 966-1-4887788) or the Department in Canberra on
(06) 2613305 for advice on latest development