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Australia-U.S. Ministerial To Focus on Security Issues, Bird Flu

15 November 2005

Zoellick, Rumsfeld to consult with Australian officials November 17-18

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will travel to Adelaide, Australia, November 17-18 to participate in the 17th Australia-U.S. Ministerial (AUSMIN) meeting with senior Australian government officials, the State Department announced November 14.

The two countries will use the ministerial to enhance their strong cooperation in the War on Terror, as well as to discuss international security in Iraq, Afghanistan and Southeast Asia and the threat posed by pandemic avian influenza, the statement says.

"Australia has been at the forefront with us in facing challenges around the globe, from battling the scourge of global terrorism and aiding the victims of the Asian tsunami to confronting the threat of avian influenza and promoting free trade," Zoellick said in the statement.

For more information on U.S. policy in the region, see East Asia and the Pacific.

Additional information on recent AUSMIN meetings is available on the Web site of the U.S. Embassy in Canberra.

Following is the text of the statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
November 14, 2005

Statement by Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman

Deputy Secretary Zoellick to Attend Australia-U.S. Ministerial

with Secretary Rumsfeld in Adelaide November 17-18

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick is traveling to Adelaide, Australia November 17-18 to participate with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in a U.S.-Australia ministerial to discuss the deep bilateral, political, and security relationship.  This is the 20th anniversary of AUSMIN and the 17th meeting.

The annual AUSMIN meetings reflect the deep and longstanding political, security, economic, and commercial relations between the United States and Australia.  Secretary Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary Zoellick will meet with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Minister for Defense Robert Hill, and other senior Australian government officials.

"The United States has no closer alliance partner than Australia.  Our special partnership is built on the solid foundation of common values and our shared commitment to a free, secure, and prosperous world," said Mr. Zoellick.  As U.S. Trade Representative during the first term of the Bush Administration, Mr. Zoellick negotiated the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that was passed by Congress last year and which came into force on January 1, 2005.

"Australia has been at the forefront with us in facing challenges around the globe, from battling the scourge of global terrorism and aiding the victims of the Asian tsunami to confronting the threat of avian influenza and promoting free trade," said Mr. Zoellick.  "I'm very proud of our FTA with Australia, which will boost our economies and integrate them in a positive way to face increasing competition around the world. We couldn't ask for a better friend and partner."

The two countries will use this year's AUSMIN to enhance our strong cooperation in the war on terrorism, which is critical to fostering the growing international commitment to fight terror.  The participants will discuss their joint efforts in the promotion of democracy and international security in Iraq, Afghanistan and Southeast Asia.  They will share views on a range of global and regional issues, including strategic developments in Asia, confronting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, enhancing the effectiveness of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and responding to the threat posed by pandemic Avian Influenza.  The meeting will provide an opportunity to review the significant strengthening of the U.S.-Australia military alliance in recent years and identify areas for further progress.

Deputy Secretary Zoellick will be accompanied at AUSMIN by Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs John Hillen, the State Department Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Henry A. Crumpton, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kathleen Stephens, and William Stanton, Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Canberra.  Secretary Rumsfeld also will be accompanied by a senior delegation.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)