Visit to Belgium and Libya

I will visit Brussels 18-19 May to take part in the 20 th round of the annual Australian-European Commission Ministerial Consultations. I will also hold meetings with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and address the North Atlantic Council. On 19-20 May I will visit Tripoli for bilateral discussions with the Libyan Government.

In Brussels, I will undertake extensive discussions with an EC delegation led by the Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, and including the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, and the Commissioner assisting on Trade, Danuta H übner. I will also meet with the Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, Ant ó nio Vitorino.

The Government is committed to increasing engagement with the EU in Australia’s priority areas. Our discussions will cover critical issues in international security including combating terrorism and restoring stability in Iraq; important developments in trade policy, particularly the Doha Round of World Trade Organisation negotiations; progress in our cooperation on education, science and technology and the environment; development cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region; police cooperation; and migration and asylum issues.

On 19 May I will meet the NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, to address the Permanent Representatives of all NATO member countries in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council. This will be the first time a non-NATO foreign minister has addressed the Council.

I will underline Australia’s and NATO’s shared values and common commitment to addressing global security issues. I will also push for stronger links between Australia and NATO to boost cooperation on global security issues.

My visit to Libya will be a unique opportunity for me to convey in person to the Libyan leaders our powerful endorsement of their decision to renounce weapons of mass destruction and to rejoin the community of nations. I will encourage them to continue on that path and to demonstrate to others the benefits of their new approach.

I will also stress Australia’s commitment to build a broad-based relationship with Libya including constructive dialogue on a wide range of issues to both of us. I will also show our interests in developing a strong commercial relationship with the Libyans.

Diplomatic relations with Libya were suspended in 1987, and in 1992 Australia imposed United Nations sanctions on Libya. Relations were normalised in 2002 and the Trade Minister, Mark Vaile, led a trade mission to Libya that same year.

Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Ministerial) 02-6277 7500, Julie McDonald (Departmental) 02 6261 1555