THE HON. JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
Minister for Defence
Saturday, 22 November 2008
184/2008
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE MEETS WITH
INTERNATIONAL COUNTERPARTS AT REGIONAL
COMMAND (SOUTH) MEETING IN CANADA
Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, today attended the Regional
Command South (RC South) meeting in Novia Scotia, Canada.
RC South meetings provide an opportunity to engage with the eight nations operating
in southern Afghanistan.
In addition to the group meetings, Mr Fitzgibbon had bilateral meetings with United
States Secretary of State for Defense Robert Gates, United Kingdom Secretary of
State for Defence John Hutton, Dutch Minister for Defence Eimert van Middelkoop
and Canadian Minister of Defence Peter MacKay.
The meetings provide a valuable forum to discuss a broad range of issues to ensure
both strategic and practical progress is being made in southern Afghanistan.
The focus of the meeting was on the need to better coordinate the efforts of the
nations operating in the region in order to maximise the success of the ISAF mission
and progress in implementing NATO’s Comprehensive Strategic Political-Military
Plan.
The meeting also provided a valuable opportunity to assess progress in the
development and expansion of the Afghan National Security Forces. Minister
Fitzgibbon outlined Australia’s evolving commitment to Afghanistan by highlighting
that the recently deployed Operational Mentor and Liaison Team has commenced
training and mentoring of an Afghan National Army battalion in Oruzgan province.
Mr Fitzgibbon reiterated his strong view that NATO countries need to commit enough
troops to fight the Taliban insurgency.
“It has been a great pleasure to meet with the Defence Ministers of like-minded
nations and to discuss our shared commitment to Afghanistan,” said Mr Fitzgibbon.
“It is vitally important that nations who are prepared to do the heavy lifting have the
opportunity to discuss progress.
Following this meeting, Mr Fitzgibbon will travel to Spain to meet with counterparts in-
country.
Media contacts:
Jack Smith (Joel Fitzgibbon):
02 6277 7800 or 0408 116 423
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
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