Media release
24 January, 2010
London Conference on Afghanistan
I will visit the United Kingdom on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 January to attend the London Conference on Afghanistan, co-hosted by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
This Conference is the first opportunity for the new Afghan Government and the international community to set the direction for Afghanistan, focusing on priority areas: strengthened security; improved governance, including efforts to combat corruption; better coordination of development; and regional and international engagement.
The international community, including Australia, will restate its continued support for Afghanistan and urge the new Afghan Government to take greater responsibility for managing its own affairs.
The strategic objectives which Australia and our partners in the international community are pursuing in Afghanistan are clear: to deny terrorist organisations a training ground and operating base in Afghanistan; to stabilise Afghanistan; and to build the capacity of the Afghan Government and security forces to better provide for the welfare and security of the Afghan people.
At the Conference, Australia will once again urge the international community to reaffirm its collective resolve and determination on Afghanistan.
Australia is making a substantial contribution to international efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.
Australia has committed 1,550 troops to Afghanistan, concentrated in Oruzgan Province. Australian Special Forces are engaged in security operations, while a Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force is working to build the capacity of the Afghan National Army to allow it to assume responsibility for providing security in the province.
Australia has also committed A$650 million in aid and reconstruction to Afghanistan since 2001, focused on building the capacity of Afghan institutions to govern more effectively and to provide basic services and economic development.
At the Conference, I will also meet for the first time my new Afghan counterpart, Dr Zalmai Rassoul, whom I congratulate on his recent appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
In London I will also discuss key bilateral and international priorities with my United Kingdom counterpart, Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Media contacts
- Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500
- Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555