- Title: AUSTRALIA: UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA SIGN AGREEMENT STRENGTHENING MILITARY TIES
- Date: 18th July 2000
- Summary: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (JULY 17, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. MV AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER JOHN MOORE AND U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN ENTER ROOM; SIT DOWN AT DESK AND SIIGNING THE AGREEMENT; CU DOCUMENT BEING SIGNED (2 SHOTS) 0.20 2. SCU JOURNALISTS 0.22 3. MV MOORE AND COHEN SHAKE HANDS 0.35 4. MV MOORE AND COHEN ENTER NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM; JOURNALISTS (2 SHOTS) 0.50 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER JOHN MOORE "Well, we discussed the Fijian crisis in relation to the whole of South Pacific, not any particular issue in itself. The question of sanctions relate to the Australian government's decision and that will come from the foreign ministers in due course, a statement." 1.07 6. MV NAVY AND AIR FORCE OFFICERS 1.12 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN: "(in regards to question if U.S. has decided to resume selling arms to Indonesia) What we have tried to do is to re-engage Indonesia on a military-to-military level to take it on a step-by-step basis to encourage Indonesian military officials and officers to share in conference and other types of academic institutions but to try and re-establish and re-engage Indonesia in a military level. But in the initial phase, we haven't considered selling arms at this point." 1.56 8. SLV NEWS CONFERENCE; MV JOURNALISTS NOTES (2 SHOTS) 2.04 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COHEN: "What we have indicted is that we believe is Australia is closer to the situation, that we will look to some leadership on the part of Australia in formulating our own policies in the region. But we will coordinate very carefully what sort of approach would be appropriate. But that's something Australia would look at very carefully." 2.47 10. SCU MOORE LISTENING 2.50 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COHEN: "I really can't speculate on what sort of motivation triggered the Iranians to test it at this time. They have tried to test it in the past, the past tests were not very successful. This represents the continuation of the testing program. Whether it was scheduled to coincide with the discussions in Washington is a matter only the Iranians can determine. We don't have any information pertaining to that. We accept it for what it is. We know they will continue to test it , they will continue to develop a long-range missile capability. That's one of the reasons why we think it's important the United States continues its research and testing and development programme for the NMD, precisely to deal with countries such as North Korea, Iran , Iraq, others." 3.42 12. MV NEWS CAMERA OPERATORS 3.45 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COHEN: "It won't change anything. We have discussed this in the past, we believe that North Korea, Iran potentially Iraq and others will develop long-range missile capability. This has not come as a surprise , this is something I have talked about at length to our European allies, to the Russians and others that this is what we anticipate. This confirms our anticipation. So this is a factor which will have to be taken into account in terms of what the time frame will be when Iran would have the capability of striking U.S. territory and some European nations. So it doesn't change anything. It simply confirms what we've been saying." 4.29 14. SLV MOORE AND COHEN WALKING AWAY 4.37 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd August 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
- Country: Australia
- Reuters ID: LVAWVT51TRFLPLHJ793GQJ6LGWE
- Story Text: The United States and Australia have signed an
agreement strengthening their military ties.
United States Defence Secretary William Cohen and his
Australian counterpart John Moore signed the agreement at a
ceremony in Sydney on Monday (July 17).
The agreement includes giving the Australian military
access to American defence technology.
At a news conference after the signing ceremony, Moore
told journalists the scope of his one-on-one meeting with
Cohen.
"Well, we discussed the Fijian crisis in relation to the
whole of South Pacific, not any particular issue in itself.
The question of sanctions relate to the Australian
government's decision and that will come from the foreign
ministers in due course, a statement."
With regards to Indonesia, Cohen said the United States
remains undecided on whether to resume selling arms to
Indonesia, where violent ethnic and religious clashes have
killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands.
The United States had stopped selling weapons to
Indonesia at the height of the violence in East Timor where
Indonesian soldiers colluded with militiamen in spreading a
campaign of terror and arson.
"What we have tried to do is to re-engage Indonesia on a
military-to-military level to take it on a step-by-step basis
to encourage Indonesian military officials and officers to
share in conference and other types of academic institutions
but to try and re-establish and re-engage Indonesia in a
military level. But in the initial phase, we haven't
considered selling arms at this point."
Cohen added the United States will look to Australia for
guidance in dealing with the worsening situation in the
Moluccas, or Spice Islands.
"What we have indicted is that we believe is Australia
is closer to the situation , that we will look to some
leadership on the part of Australia in formulating our own
policies in the region. But we will coordinate very carefully
what sort of approach would be appropriate. But that's
something Australia would look at very carefully."
On the issue of the National Missile Defence (NMD)
system, Cohen reiterated the U.S. position that it is
"necessary" given the current range of technology.
U.S. plans to build a NMD and a Theatre Missile Defence
(TMD) to protect U.S. troops and allies in Asia have come
under fierce criticism internationally.
Cohen also said Iran's successful test-firing of an
upgraded version of its medium-range Shahab missile on
Saturday (July 15) reinforces the need for a NMD.
The ballistic missile has a range of 1,300 km (800
miles), making it capable of hitting Israel. The test has
raised immediate concerns in Israel and the United Sates.
"I really can't speculate on what sort of motivation
triggered the Iranians to test it at this time. They have
tried to test it in the past, the past tests were not very
successful. This represents the continuation of the testing
program. Whether it was scheduled to coincide with the
discussions in Washington is a matter only the Iranians can
determine. We don't have any information pertaining to that.
We accept it for what it is. We know they will continue to
test it , they will continue to develop a long-range missile
capability. That's one of the reasons why we think it's
important the United States continues its research and testing
and development programme for the NMD, precisely to deal with
countries such as North Korea, Iran , Iraq, others."
After a military ceremony later on Monday, Cohen is due
to fly back to Washington.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
