The Hon. John Moore, MP
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24 Feb 2000
Major-General Peter Cosgrove
The Minister for Defence, John Moore, today officially welcomed home INTERFET Commander, Major-General Peter Cosgrove.
After five months in East Timor, the General flew in to Sydney and was greeted by his wife and family, the Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral Chris Barrie, and the Minister.
"Peter Cosgrove has earned the respect and gratitude of all Australians for the compassionate and courageous way he conducted our nation's contribution to the United Nations mission in East Timor," Mr Moore said.
"He led by fine example, commanding the largest, most complex military operation undertaken by Australia since the Vietnam War. It was an operation that saw thousands of Australian men and women go in to harm's way, with not one life lost under fire. By any measure, this has been an extraordinarily successful outcome.
"General Cosgrove and all members of the ADF under his command have served their country with honour and the utmost professionalism. They entered a community that had been all but destroyed and in a few, short months, helped restore peace and stability to East Timor. They have laid the foundations for East Timor's future, a future based on the democratic principles of freedom and respect for human rights.
"I also acknowledge the contribution of the families of our troops who served in East Timor. For them, it has been a long and difficult five months and I thank them for their support."
Mr Moore also praised Australian troops who will remain in East Timor as part of Phase III of the UN mission, UNTAET.
"Australians should not forget that we are continuing to make a significant contribution to the peacekeeping operation and that ADF personnel will remain in East Timor for some time.
"Around 1,500 Australians make up our presence in the UN force and we have provided the deputy commander for UNTAET, Major-General Mike Smith. Another Australian, Brigadier Duncan Lewis, is commanding the western sector.
"These fine men and women deserve our continued support, praise and best wishes. We wish them well as their mission continues," said Mr Moore.
Australia is also contributing two RAN landing craft, 400 logistics support personnel through to 30 June, 17 UN military observers to UNTAET, and four Blackhawk helicopters with crew and support staff for night time medical evacuation tasks.
In due course, the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment will replace the 5th/7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment which is currently deployed in the western border areas of East Timor.
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