Image Gallery: February 2008
Statement of Principles signed during Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations 2008
23 February 2008
The Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) were held at Parliament House in Canberra, 23 February 2008. AUSMIN is the premier bilateral forum for consultations on foreign affairs, defence and strategic matters and embodies the reciprocal and cooperative spirit of the 60-year alliance between our countries.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Stephen Smith MP, and the Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, hosted the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) at Parliament House in Canberra. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, and the Secretary of Defence, Mr Nick Warner, also took part in the talks.
AUSMIN is the premier bilateral forum for consultations on foreign affairs, defence and strategic matters. AUSMIN embodies the reciprocal and cooperative spirit of the 60-year alliance, which is built on shared interests, values and sacrifice.
AUSMIN discussions reflected on the global dimensions of Australia and United States cooperation in confronting contemporary security challenges, as well as our close cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region to promote peace, security and prosperity.
The US delegation was led by United States Secretary of Defense, Dr Robert Gates, and Deputy Secretary of State, Ambassador John Negroponte. The US Ambassador to Australia, Ambassador Robert D. McCallum, Jr also attended with the US delegation. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and Commander US Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy Keating, will also attend.
| 20080223adf8054893_010 US Secretary of Defense, Dr Robert Gates, and Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon, sign a Statement of Principles establishing a military satellite communications partnership between our countries. Both governments committed to taking forward the partnership in a manner which benefits the defence capabilities of the ADF and US military. Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith, was also present at the signing ceremony. (Date taken: 23 February 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080223adf8054893_011 US Secretary of Defense, Dr Robert Gates, and Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon, sign a Statement of Principles establishing a military satellite communications partnership between our countries. Both governments committed to taking forward the partnership in a manner which benefits the defence capabilities of the ADF and US military. Deputy Secretary of State, Ambassador John Negroponte and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith, also attended the signing ceremony. (Date taken: 23 February 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080223adf8054893_012 The US Secretary of Defense, Dr Robert Gates, and Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon, strengthened the hand of friendship between our countries at the signing ceremony of a Statement of Principles establishing a military satellite communications partnership at AUSMIN held in Canberra today. (Date taken: 23 February 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080223adf8054893_013 A Joint Press Conference was held by the US Deputy Secretary of State, the Hon. John Negroponte, Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, US Secretary of Defense, the Hon. Dr Robert Gates, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, to formally close the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) held in Canberra today. Also in attendance at the Press Conference were (L-R) Secretary of Defence, Mr Nick Warner, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, along with their US counterparts Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and Commander, United States Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy Keating USN. (Date taken: 23 February 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080223adf8054893_014 Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, agrees with his US counterparts and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith, in further deepening bilateral defence cooperation at the AUSMIN Joint Press Conference held at Parliament House, Canberra today. A Joint Press Conference held by the US Deputy Secretary of State, the Hon. John Negroponte, Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, US Secretary of Defense, the Hon. Dr Robert Gates, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, finished the formal aspects of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN). (Date taken: 23 February 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080223adf8054893_015 Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, responds to a journalist's question at the AUSMIN Joint Press Conference held at Parliament House, Canberra today. A Joint Press Conference held by the US Deputy Secretary of State, the Hon. John Negroponte, Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, US Secretary of Defense, the Hon. Dr Robert Gates, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, finished the formal aspects of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN). (Date taken: 23 February 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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