“One other thing: at the meeting in Canada, [there was] the coup in Fiji. This comes to an important part of the Commonwealth: the role of the Queen [Elizabeth II]. I had absolutely just enormous respect for her as leader of the Commonwealth. You could talk to her about any of the fifty-one countries of the Commonwealth and you could have an intelligent conversation with her about the economics, the politics. She really immersed herself in the Commonwealth.”
![“One other thing: at the meeting in Canada, [there was] the coup in Fiji. This comes to an important part of the Commonwealth: the role of the Queen [Elizabeth II]. I had absolutely just enormous respect for her as leader of the Commonwealth. You could talk to her about any of the fifty-one…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57c/bob-hawke-7891_canada_one-other-thing-at-the-meeting-in-canada_2794113.jpg)
![“I think there are a number of reasons, not least of which is the personality of the Queen [ Elizabeth II]. It's very easy to underrate her significance. I think she finds the Commonwealth and her position as Head of the Commonwealth infinitely more interesting than being the Queen of England…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/888/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_i-think-there-are-a-number-of-reasons-no_2103188.jpg)
![“There is a reciprocal respect for [ Elizabeth II], for her interest in the Commonwealth. The members of the Commonwealth recognise that here is a genuine interest from the top. So, that's one reason. I'm not putting it necessarily in order of importance.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/05a/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_there-is-a-reciprocal-respect-for-elizab_186758.jpg)
![“[ Elizabeth II] has immersed herself, in the sense [that] she can speak intelligently about any and all members of the Commonwealth and she has played a role.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/79e/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_elizabeth-ii-has-immersed-herself-in-the_1889018.jpg)
![“She [ Elizabeth II] is, you know, "Do-what-you're-told, Lady". But in the Commonwealth, she is much more than just a figurehead.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ae/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_she-elizabeth-ii-is-you-know-do-what-you_1440175.jpg)
![“Brian Mulroney, myself, [and] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core [of the Commonwealth ]. That was the engine room, I reckon.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/96c/bob-hawke-7891_brian_brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i_19423.jpg)
![“We [ with Brian Mulroney and Rajiv Gandhi] went to the meeting in Canada [the 1987 Vancouver CHOGM] and I said to them there that sanctions weren't working; they were just being busted. And it did seem to me that one way that we could bring the apartheid regime down would be if we did mount an…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/66c/bob-hawke-7891_apartheid_we-with-brian-mulroney-and-rajiv-gandhi_109260.jpg)
![“I told [ David Lange] he was crazy, because you can't have an alliance relationship if you refuse access to their ships. And the Americans wanted to punish him very severely and I intervened there and softened them somewhat. They wanted to really take some tough, reactive measures to New Zealand.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9cd/bob-hawke-7891_access_i-told-david-lange-he-was-crazy-because_122774.jpg)
![“George Bush Junior [George W Bush] was a religious fanatic, and Tony Blair wasn't far behind in a way.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/852/bob-hawke-7891_behinds_george-bush-junior-george-w-bush-was-a-r_342255.jpg)
