NATO & Afghanistan visits confirm Australia's ongoing Commitment to Mission
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, recently visited NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) headquarters and Afghanistan as part of an Australian Parliamentary delegation. The NATO visit was the first information visit by Australian parliamentarians.
“The NATO Secretary General, Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed words of welcome to the visiting delegation in saying ‘You are a highly appreciated partner and contributor’, in appreciation of the Australian role in the NATO led mission in Afghanistan. Australia is the 10th largest contributor of troops to Afghanistan outside of NATO members.
“Our current key mutual interest is Afghanistan and it is important that, as a NATO partner, Australia has a seat at the table where decisions are made and planning is undertaken, said Mr Hawke.
“Our meetings with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and other high level leaders left us in no doubt NATO appreciates Australia’s vital contribution to Afghanistan and to discourse about broader global security issues, said Alex Hawke.
“We also witnessed the high level of engagement and access that Australia’s Ambassador to NATO, HE Dr Brendan Nelson, has in Europe. Ambassador Nelson is an influential advocate for Australia, Alex Hawke said.
The members of the delegation challenged NATO officials on a range of issues in Afghanistan and Central Asia more generally.
“We now look forward to the outcomes of the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago in May”, concluded Alex Hawke.