SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER
Minister for Defence
Sunday, 25 April 2010
035/2010
Minister for Defence visits Afghanistan
During a three-day visit to Afghanistan the Minister for Defence, Senator John
Faulkner, has met Afghan Minister for Defence, Minister Wardak, and Afghan
Minister for the Interior, Minister Atmar, in Kabul to discuss Australia’s training
mission in Oruzgan province.
The meetings were part of a series of visits to Kabul, Australia’s base at Tarin
Kowt and Kandahar. He discussed the progress of the stabilisation of
Afghanistan with General Rodriguez, Commander ISAF Joint Command.
Senator Faulkner also discussed NATO efforts to resolve command
arrangements in Oruzgan after the scheduled departure of the Dutch from
August 2010.
In Tarin Kowt the Minister met with Australian Commanders and members of
Mentoring Task Force 1 and visited the Police Training Centre.
“The Afghan National Army 4th Brigade is continuing to make good progress
under Australian and ISAF mentoring,” Senator Faulkner said.
“I have been delighted to see our impressive achievements here first hand,
both in terms of our efforts to build the capacity of Afghan National Security
Forces, and Australia’s ongoing involvement in reconstruction and
development,” he said.
Senator Faulkner also met with International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
partners to discuss the progress of ongoing operations in the south of
Afghanistan, and members of the International Committee of the Red Cross
based in Afghanistan.
Before departing Afghanistan, Senator Faulkner visited Australia’s Rotary
Wing Group and Heron UAV reconnaissance detachment in Kandahar.
Media notes:
Vision was fed to the Canberra Press Gallery earlier this afternoon
Imagery is available at:
Media contacts:
Colin Campbell (John Faulkner):
02 6277 7800 or 0407 787 181
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
