MINISTER FOR DEFENCE TO VISIT ETHIOPIA AND POLAND

The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, has today departed for a visit to Ethiopia and Poland, where he will discuss a range of issues regarding Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan and Africa.

Mr Fitzgibbon will first travel to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, where he will meet with the Ethiopian Defence Minister senior African Union (AU) officials and ambassadors to the AU from Africans nations.

“The Australian government is committed to enhancing and deepening our relationship with Africa, and I look forward to exploring how Defence can pursue greater dialogue and modest practical cooperation in view of the AU’s growing role in advancing African peace and security objectives,” said Mr Fitzgibbon.

Mr Fitzgibbon will then travel to Krakow in Poland for meetings with his counterparts from other International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) contributing nations to discuss the outlook in Afghanistan.  

The Krakow meeting is an important opportunity for those nations who have forces deployed to Afghanistan to exchange views on future plans and coordinate our efforts.

“I look forward to working with like-minded partners to deepen cooperation and align our respective contributions” said Mr Fitzgibbon.

Mr Fitzgibbon will use the meeting to reinforce the importance of implementing NATO’s Comprehensive Strategic Political Military Plan and accelerating efforts to develop the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces.

“Afghanistan is entering a critical phase in its development, with democratic elections to be held this year. ISAF’s cooperation with Afghan authorities to support the conduct of safe and secure elections will be vital,” said Mr Fitzgibbon.

Among the other attendees will be Dutch Minister of Defence, Eimert van Middelkoop; US Secretary of Defence, Robert Gates; UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Hutton; Canadian Minister for Defence, Peter Mackay and Afghan Minister for Defence, General Abdul Rahim Wardak.

Media contacts:

Christian Taubenschlag (Travelling with Joel Fitzgibbon):                   0438 595 567

Jack Smith (Joel Fitzgibbon):                                     02 6277 7800 or 0408 116 423

Defence Media Liaison:                                               02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664