ID :
57458
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 17:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/57458
The shortlink copeid
Fitzgibbon visits troops in Afghanistan
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon ventured to remote parts of Afghanistan's Oruzgan
Province on Anzac Day to spend time with Australian troops working "outside the
wire".
Mr Fitzgibbon attended a dawn service on Saturday at the Australian base at Tarin
Kowt in the troubled southern Afghan province, after flying in from a visit to
Australian troops stationed in the Middle East.
"It was a tremendous honour and privilege for me to spend Anzac Day with Australian
troops on operations in Afghanistan, and to honour the sacrifices of fallen
Australian soldiers with a dawn service here in Tarin Kowt," he said in a statement.
The minister was accompanied by Keith Payne, a career Australian Army soldier who
was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1969 for gallantry in Vietnam.
Mr Fitzgibbon went "outside the wire" to meet Australian and Afghan soldiers on
joint operations in remote locations in Oruzgan, including reconstruction projects
being undertaken with Afghan tradesmen and military personnel, the statement said.
"My visit to these areas provided a unique opportunity to see the progress being
made by Australian forces in building the capacity of the Afghan National Army and
helping Afghans rebuild their country," the minister said. "I now have an even
greater appreciation of the challenges confronting our troops, and of the dangers
faced in conducting these important operations."
Mr Fitzgibbon reconfirmed Australia's commitment to helping Afghan forces establish
security in their country.
He said this goal remained a key objective of the multinational International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and was critical to the security of the region.
"Australia is committed to ensuring the success of this strategy alongside our ISAF
partners," he said.
Mr Fitzgibbon also met with ISAF regional commander Major General Mart de Kruif to
discuss operational issues in the south of Afghanistan, including an impending
influx of forces from the United States.
In talks with Afghan and ISAF officials, he covered security issues in the lead-up
to Afghanistan's August 20 national elections, the statement said.
Province on Anzac Day to spend time with Australian troops working "outside the
wire".
Mr Fitzgibbon attended a dawn service on Saturday at the Australian base at Tarin
Kowt in the troubled southern Afghan province, after flying in from a visit to
Australian troops stationed in the Middle East.
"It was a tremendous honour and privilege for me to spend Anzac Day with Australian
troops on operations in Afghanistan, and to honour the sacrifices of fallen
Australian soldiers with a dawn service here in Tarin Kowt," he said in a statement.
The minister was accompanied by Keith Payne, a career Australian Army soldier who
was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1969 for gallantry in Vietnam.
Mr Fitzgibbon went "outside the wire" to meet Australian and Afghan soldiers on
joint operations in remote locations in Oruzgan, including reconstruction projects
being undertaken with Afghan tradesmen and military personnel, the statement said.
"My visit to these areas provided a unique opportunity to see the progress being
made by Australian forces in building the capacity of the Afghan National Army and
helping Afghans rebuild their country," the minister said. "I now have an even
greater appreciation of the challenges confronting our troops, and of the dangers
faced in conducting these important operations."
Mr Fitzgibbon reconfirmed Australia's commitment to helping Afghan forces establish
security in their country.
He said this goal remained a key objective of the multinational International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and was critical to the security of the region.
"Australia is committed to ensuring the success of this strategy alongside our ISAF
partners," he said.
Mr Fitzgibbon also met with ISAF regional commander Major General Mart de Kruif to
discuss operational issues in the south of Afghanistan, including an impending
influx of forces from the United States.
In talks with Afghan and ISAF officials, he covered security issues in the lead-up
to Afghanistan's August 20 national elections, the statement said.
