Joint Media Release

Eritrea Takes Australian Sheep

We welcome the announcement today by our colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Warren Truss, and the Eritrean Minister for Agriculture, that Eritrea has accepted the more than 50 000 sheep on board the MV Cormo Express.

We appreciate Eritrea's assistance in bringing to an end the uncertainty over the fate of the sheep of the Cormo Express. This is a good outcome for Eritrea and for the reputation of Australia's live animal exporters. Eritrea's satisfaction with the disease-free status of the sheep confirms the independent veterinary assessments of the health of the sheep.

Cooperation between Eritrea and Australia over the landing of the sheep reflects hard work by Eritrean and Australian officials. Australia's Ambassador to Eritrea, Mr Paul Comfort, and other embassy staff did an outstanding job in working with Australian and Eritrean officials to secure Eritrea's acceptance of the sheep.

This builds on the work done by Australian officials in Kuwait, led by Ambassador Bob Tyson, in securing the reprovisioning of the Cormo Express, which enabled the ship to make the journey to Eritrea.

This outcome was the result of a whole-of-government effort of which Australians can be proud.

Contacts: Chris Kenny (Downer's office)  02 6277 7500 /  Matthew Doman (Vaile’s office)  02 6277 7420

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