I warmly welcome President Clintons announcement that Admiral Dennis C Blair, Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Command, will be his personal representative for Australian-American Friendship Week and the 58th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Admiral Blair will participate in a number of events, in commemoration of the battle, in Sydney and in Canberra.
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought in May 1942, was the turning point of the war in the South Pacific. The courage and sacrifice our forces demonstrated against a common foe in that battle formed the basis of the strong and enduring friendship between our two nations.
The strength of that relationship and the valuable contribution it makes to international security were demonstrated once again in East Timor, as Australians and Americans worked with the personnel of many other nations to bring peace and stability to a shattered territory. Our collective efforts made a real and positive difference to the future of the people of East Timor. Australians will appreciate President Clintons congratulations on the performance of Australian personnel in East Timor.
The peace and security we enjoy today was paid for through the courage and personal sacrifice of the young Australians and Americans who fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea and in the many military campaigns in which our two nations have fought side-by-side since that time. We are forever in their debt and will never forget their sacrifice.