Clinton praises Australia`s peacekeepers

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised Australia's role in peacekeeping
missions in the Asia Pacific region.
Speaking to an audience of under 35s to be broadcast on the ABC on Sunday night, Ms
Clinton acknowledges Australia has "increased the military cooperation with Malaysia
and Singapore, provided crucial assistance in the Timor-Leste transition to
independence and led stabilisation forces in the Solomon Islands".
"Your efforts to promote sustainable development around the world reflect an
understanding of how important it is to lend a hand to those communities," Ms
Clinton says in her address to the audience, before taking questions.
"Your sending peacekeepers to dangerous missions in troubled lands sets a very good
model."
Ms Clinton is due to meet Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Sunday afternoon to look
at renewable energy projects.
She will join with US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, Australia's Foreign
Minister Kevin Rudd and Defence Minister Stephen Smith on Monday for the annual
AUSMIN talks.
Ms Clinton also thanked Australia for its military support in Afghanistan.
"I'm very grateful for Australia's support in the mission in Afghanistan," she told
the gathering.
"You are the largest non-NATO contingent of troops serving and by everyone's
estimates, doing a very good job under very difficult circumstances."