Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah with Prime Minster John
Howard
In response to an official invitation by the Government
of Australia, Foreign Minister Abdullah visited
Australia from 17 to 20 August 2005 for the second time
in three years. The visit was aimed at further enhancing
the cordial relations between the two countries.
During his visit, Minister Abdullah called on Australian
leaders including the Hon. John Howard MP, Prime
Minister of Australia, the Hon. Alexander Downer, MP,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Robert Hill,
Minister for Defence, the Hon Amanda Vanstone, Minister
for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs,
the Hon. Kim Beazley MP, Leader of the Opposition, Mr
Kevin Rudd MP, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Mr Bob Karr, Former Premier of the NSW.
Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah with Foreign Minster
Alexander Downer
On August 18th, Ministers Abdullah and Downer visited
the new Embassy building in Canberra and participated in
a reception to celebrate the Independence Day of
Afghanistan, the official inauguration of the new
Embassy building, the third anniversary of the
establishment of the Embassy of Afghanistan in
Australia, the signing of the sister city relationship
letter of intent between Alice Springs and Paghman and
the farewell ceremony of the Ambassador of Afghanistan
to Australia. To read the full report of the Embassy’s
opening ceremony please
click here.
Minister Abdullah with the Representative of the Afghan
Community in Australia at the Opening Ceremony
Minister Abdullah discussed a wide range of issues with
Australian leaders during his visit, including the
deployment of over 190 SAS troops to Afghanistan to
assist in Afghanistan’s Parliamentary elections due in
September 18th, this year. These troops will remain in
Afghanistan until September 2006. Australia has also
showed a strong interest in sending a Provincial
Reconstruction Team (PRT) composed of 200 military
personnel including engineers and reconstruction
specialists. The team is to arrive in Afghanistan in mid
2006.
Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah with Air Marshal Angus
Houston, Chief of Australian
Defence Force
Negotiations for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of
bilateral cooperation on security issues were
successfully commenced. Soon this document will be
signed between the two countries.
Australia has announced the allocation of $7 million to
assist Afghanistan with its reconstruction and
forthcoming Parliamentary Elections. This is in addition
to the more than $110 million that has already been
committed of reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan.
Australia will allocate a further $26 million in aid to
Afghanistan in the fiscal year 2005-2006.
Foreign Minister Downer expressed interest in opening an
Australian mission in Kabul and indicated that he would
follow up on this matter.
Australia also reiterated its continued commitment to
progress on the Kabul Housing and Border Control
projects that have been satisfactorily pursued over the
past couple of years between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah with Members of the
Australasian Afghanistan Business Council
Minister Abdullah attended separate functions of the
Australasian Afghanistan Business Council (AABC) and the
Cultural and Educational Centre of Afghanistan where he
discussed the current socio-economic, cultural and
educational environment in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah giving lecture at the
Australian National University
On the evening of August 19th, Minister Abdullah gave a
lecture at the Australian National University on the
theme “Afghanistan: Foreign Policy Challenges and
Responses”, receiving a warm welcome by the hundreds of
academics and students present. Later in the evening, a
formal dinner was organized by the Vice Chancellor of
the Australian National University, Professor Ian Chubb
in Minister Abdullah’s honour. On this occasion,
Professor Chubb announced the Australian National
University’s plan to convene an intensive week-long
course on “Public Diplomacy” to be held soon for the
benefit of the staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in Kabul. The Australian National University will also
support an initiative, led by the Liechtenstein
Institute for Self-Determination at Princeton
University, to help in activating an Afghan Academy for
Public Service Training in Kabul.
On August 20th, H.E Dr Abdullah officially opened the “CHIREH”:
Traditional hunting cloths of Herat, Afghanistan, an art
exhibition at the Royal Australian Institute of
Architects in Sydney before heading to New Zealand for
another official visit.
Additional Material:
Transcript of H E Dr Abdullah's Interview with SBS
Television
Transcript of Joint Press Conf
Minister Alexander Downer-Press Release
Article-Indifference is the enemy of all Afghans
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