ID :
42342
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 17:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/42342
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Smith, Clinton discuss ANZUS alliance
Australia and the United States have pledged their attachment to the ANZUS alliance during a conversation between Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday.
The contact is the first high-level exchange between Australia and the new Obama administration.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has written a letter of congratulations to US President Barack Obama but has not yet spoken to him.
Mr Smith and Ms Clinton discussed a range of issues including Afghanistan, the global financial crisis, the Doha round of world trade talks and nuclear disarmament.
However, they didn't touch on Mr Obama's pledge to close America's Guantanamo Bay military prison within a year.
Mr Smith told reporters he and Ms Clinton spoke of the crucial nature of the alliance between Australia and the US.
"I indicated a very strong personal desire to work closely with her into the future," he said.
"We spoke about the very warm and strong and abiding relationship between Australia and United States.
"The enduring alliance we have which remains an indispensable aspect of Australia's key security and defence arrangements.
"We both indicated our very strong attachment to the alliance."
The pair canvassed plans to hold the annual meeting of US and Australian foreign and defence ministers, AUSMIN, in the near future.
"We spoke also about the importance of the United States engagement in the Asia Pacific," Mr Smith said.
"I made the point ... (it) was very important for security and prosperity in the Asia Pacific."
Mr Smith congratulated Ms Clinton on the appointment of former US ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke to be special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Australia is one of the biggest non-NATO contributors to the coalition mission in Afghanistan.
The Obama administration is expected to ask its allies for their support for a surge in troop numbers to help battle a Taliban insurgency.
However they didn't discuss the closure of Guantanamo Bay, one of the priority issues for the new administration.
Australia rejected an earlier request from the new administration for Australia to take a number of Guantanamo Bay detainees.
"If further approaches are made we'll look at it on a case by case basis," Mr Smith said.
China reportedly urged Australia against taking the 17 Muslim Uighurs from an autonomous region of China.
The contact is the first high-level exchange between Australia and the new Obama administration.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has written a letter of congratulations to US President Barack Obama but has not yet spoken to him.
Mr Smith and Ms Clinton discussed a range of issues including Afghanistan, the global financial crisis, the Doha round of world trade talks and nuclear disarmament.
However, they didn't touch on Mr Obama's pledge to close America's Guantanamo Bay military prison within a year.
Mr Smith told reporters he and Ms Clinton spoke of the crucial nature of the alliance between Australia and the US.
"I indicated a very strong personal desire to work closely with her into the future," he said.
"We spoke about the very warm and strong and abiding relationship between Australia and United States.
"The enduring alliance we have which remains an indispensable aspect of Australia's key security and defence arrangements.
"We both indicated our very strong attachment to the alliance."
The pair canvassed plans to hold the annual meeting of US and Australian foreign and defence ministers, AUSMIN, in the near future.
"We spoke also about the importance of the United States engagement in the Asia Pacific," Mr Smith said.
"I made the point ... (it) was very important for security and prosperity in the Asia Pacific."
Mr Smith congratulated Ms Clinton on the appointment of former US ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke to be special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Australia is one of the biggest non-NATO contributors to the coalition mission in Afghanistan.
The Obama administration is expected to ask its allies for their support for a surge in troop numbers to help battle a Taliban insurgency.
However they didn't discuss the closure of Guantanamo Bay, one of the priority issues for the new administration.
Australia rejected an earlier request from the new administration for Australia to take a number of Guantanamo Bay detainees.
"If further approaches are made we'll look at it on a case by case basis," Mr Smith said.
China reportedly urged Australia against taking the 17 Muslim Uighurs from an autonomous region of China.
