Australian Troops Arrive To Support Afghan Elections
< BACK TO DEFENCE
Government - Defence Press Release24th July 2009, 12:52pm - Views: 815
 DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946 MSPA 231/09 Friday, 24 July 2009 AUSTRALIAN TROOPS ARRIVE TO SUPPORT AFGHAN ELECTIONS The Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, Major General Mark Kelly AO, has announced that a company-sized group of Australian infantry and cavalry has arrived in Afghanistan to support the conduct of next month’s Afghan elections. MAJGEN Kelly said the Australian commitment, announced by the Prime Minister earlier this year, was part of an additional 8,000 strong International Election Support Force which is assisting with the conduct of the 20th of August elections. “The 120 Australian troops have deployed to Afghanistan to provide additional security to the Afghanistan Presidential and Provincial Council elections. They will be part of a force that is providing support to the Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army”, MAJGEN Kelly said. “The conduct of free and fair elections is an important milestone for the people of Afghanistan. The provision of security by Afghan National Security Forces will also be a clear demonstration of the growing capacity of Afghanistan’s institutions to manage their own affairs.” MAJGEN Kelly also said that the expression of the democratic will of the people was a reminder to the Taliban insurgents that there was no place for oppression and intimidation in Afghanistan. The Australian Election Support Force will transition to providing additional security to the operations of the 2nd Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-2) once the elections are concluded. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) in Townsville, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Darwin and B Squadron of 3/4 Cavalry Regiment along with combat engineers from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment in Townsville form the Election Security Force and have deployed for approximately eight months. Media Note: The Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, Major General Mark Kelly AO is available for interview between 4.30pm and 6.30pm today. Requests for interview are to be provided to the Defence Public Affairs Operations Centre on 02 6265 3343. Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664 |
NEWS 
