SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER
Minister for Defence
Sunday, 7 February 2010
012/2010
Defence Ministers visit Gallipoli
The Australian Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, and his New
Zealand counterpart, Minister of Defence, the Hon. Dr Wayne Mapp, today
attended ceremonies at Gallipoli honouring fallen ANZAC and Turkish
soldiers.
“Gallipoli is revered by both Australians and New Zealanders,” Senator
Faulkner said.
“The sacrifice at Gallipoli is deeply felt by Australians almost 100 years after
the 1915 campaign, and is a fundamental part of our cultural identity.
“The mutual respect that Australia and Turkey established on this battlefield
has developed into deep bonds of friendship, goodwill and cooperation.”
The Defence Ministers visited Lone Pine, the Turkish National Memorial, and
Chunuk Bair as well as Anzac Cove and laid wreaths at each memorial.
“Australia has a strong defence relationship with Turkey based on our historic
links, and a treaty-level Defence Cooperation Agreement.
“Our engagement with Turkey includes ANZAC Day commemorations,
materiel cooperation, senior-level visits and educational exchanges,” Senator
Faulkner said.
Senator Faulkner has just attended a NATO Defence Ministers meeting in
Istanbul and took the opportunity to visit the Gallipoli battlefields and
memorials.
Turkey and Australia are both major contributors to the International Security
Assistance Force effort in Afghanistan.
Media note: Still imagery is available at
Vision has been sent to networks at Parliament House.
Media contacts:
Colin Campbell (John Faulkner):
02 6277 7800 or 0407 787 181
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
