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| Updated: 15-Mar-2004 | NATO Press Releases |
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Press Release (2004)077 19 May 2004 |
Statement by the Secretary General on the visit of the Foreign Minister Downer’s presentation to the North Atlantic Council today was the first such address by an Australian Foreign Minister. NATO members and Australia face many of the same transnational threats, including terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It only makes sense that NATO and Australia should consult and cooperate together more deeply on security issues. Therefore Minister Downer’s visit was very welcome. Today’s meeting was an important step in building this relationship. We discussed the possibilities of practical cooperation, including the exchange lessons learned from peacekeeping operations. Non-proliferation and counter-terrorism, too, were addressed in our meeting as potential fruitful areas for future cooperation. We underlined our commitment to continuing the strategic dialogue between NATO and Australia and agreed to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual strategic interest. We explored possible cooperation in the military field, with a particular emphasis on crisis management. Allied forces and Australian forces have already been engaged in the same theatre of operation. Mil-to-mil contacts could take place to explore the possibility of combined operational and training activities, consistent with our respective priorities and resources, including in the field of interoperability and maritime security. Today’s meeting was a welcome opportunity to share views
on the key security challenges of the day, and to lay the foundation
for a more co-operative relationship between NATO and Australia in future.
We are resolved to continue to develop and deepen our consultations in
the light of the evolution of the relationship. |
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