MINISTER FOR DEFENCE MEETS WITH GENERAL CRADDOCK – NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE

The Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, today met with NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Bantz (‘John’) Craddock.

As Supreme Allied Commander, General Craddock is responsible for the development of NATO strategic and operational planning and the determination of force requirements for the deployment and exercise of NATO forces.

Today’s meeting offered an opportunity to discuss the current security situation and outlook in Afghanistan and to speak frankly about the need to improve progress.

Australia currently provides the largest non-NATO country commitment in Afghanistan and is among the 10 largest military contributors to ISAF.

“NATO is the world leader in sustaining global defence operations.  Australia’s strong practical relationship with NATO reflects our overlapping security interests in the current global security environment, and new areas of cooperation have arisen as a result of NATO’s expanding operational agenda,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Earlier this year, the Minister accompanied the Prime Minister to the NATO Summit in Bucharest, where they provided Australian input to NATO’s development of a coherent and long-term strategy for the future peace and stability of Afghanistan.  A new integrated civilian and military strategy for dealing with the challenge in Afghanistan was agreed for the first time, with the NATO partners.

“The strategy seeks to strengthen Afghanistan’s institutions, particularly accelerating the growth of the Afghan National Security Forces, improving living conditions, and developing critical security infrastructure for Oruzgan Province,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Mr Fitzgibbon and General Craddock agreed that the international effort to restore stability represents a mission of great importance – not only for the Afghan people but also for its contribution to global security.

Australia has made positive progress in disrupting insurgent operations in Oruzgan Province.  Successes this month include the capture on 4 August 2008 of the Taliban extremist ‘Shadow Governor’ for Oruzgan Province, who was responsible for coordinating a campaign of intimidation and violence against the province’s population; and a successful operation on 12 August 2008 against a senior provincial Taliban extremist commander, who had recently equipped several suicide bombers who had struck civilian and security facilities, resulting in the murder of innocent Afghan citizens.

Our cooperation with NATO has been marked by a number of recent initiatives, including increased involvement in and access to planning, training and other activities previously only available to NATO members and partner countries.

In June this year, NATO participated in Exercise Pitch Black – a biennial exercise that provides the highest level of Air Force collective training in Offensive and Defensive Counter Air operations – for the first time.

“While Australia enjoys longstanding close Defence relations with a number of NATO Member countries, this was the first time we have exercised with NATO assets in Australia,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Earlier this month, the NATO Secretary-General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer praised Australia’s contribution to the war in Afghanistan during a visit to diggers in a remote outpost in the Baluchi region of Oruzgan Province.

Media contacts:

Christian Taubenschlag (Joel Fitzgibbon):         02 6277 7800 or 0438 595 567

Defence Media Liaison:                                       02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664