08 November 2010

Clinton Affirms Strong Australian Relations

By MacKenzie C. Babb
Staff Writer

Washington — The defense and foreign ministers of Australia and the United States discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, from women’s empowerment to military cooperation, at the just-concluded, 25th annual Australia-U.S. Ministerial consultations in Melbourne, Australia.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Defense Minister Stephen Smith.

“This was a broad, far-reaching and extremely valuable set of consultations,” Clinton said at a joint news conference November 8.

The officials earlier released a joint statement affirming a bilateral friendship based on common values, such as the “principles of democracy, a liberal economy and opportunity for all.” This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Australia.

“Our relationship continues to be a strategic anchor of security and prosperity in this region and beyond, and our countries are working very closely together. The Melbourne Statement reflects that level of cooperation and it touches on the many areas where we are involved together,” Clinton said.

One area the officials discussed was partnering to combat violence against women.

“When women are not protected, it undermines families, communities and even nations,” Clinton said. Rudd said about 30 percent of women and girls around the world experience some sort of physical or sexual violence during their lives.

“We believe as democracies and as believers in fundamental human rights that we’ve got a responsibility not just to observe this, not just to be concerned about it, but to act on it,” Rudd said.

Rudd and Clinton committed to work fully with U.N. Women, the newly created organization under the leadership of former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

Another topic leading the agenda was stronger military cooperation. Australia has invited the United States to make greater use of its bases and ports, test-firing ranges, and a joint space-tracking facility used to monitor missiles, satellites and space debris.

“This alliance has never been more important, and the ties between our two nations and our two militaries, bonds of shared culture, interests and values, give me great confidence that we stand ready to confront the challenges of this new century, as we have in the past,” Gates said.

The ministerial group discussed Iran’s nuclear program, relations with Japan and the weekend parliamentary elections in Burma.

In a statement, the leaders criticized Burma’s failure “to hold free, fair and genuinely inclusive elections.”

Talks also covered China’s role as a rising regional power.  

“We are committed to developing a strong comprehensive relationship with the People’s Republic of China,” Rudd said.

Clinton said the United States welcomes China’s economic success, adding that as it gains regional and global power, the United States expects “China will be a responsible player and will participate in the international framework of rules.”

The leaders also discussed Afghanistan, where Clinton said progress is slowly being made. Canberra has deployed more than 1,500 military personnel to Afghanistan.

Australia was the final stop of Clinton’s 13-day diplomatic mission that has included consultations with leaders and senior officials from at least eight Asian and Pacific nations. She returned to Washington November 8 after a brief visit to American Samoa.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)