Defence Recruitment.com

Thursday, 10 December 2009

Defence Media Release 054/2009

The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today announced that the Australian commitment to the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in East Timor will draw down from approximately 650 to around 400 personnel by February 2010. 

The overall size of the joint Australian-New Zealand force will decrease from 800 to 550 personnel.

'The reduction of the number of ADF personnel was agreed following extensive discussions with East Timor's leadership, the United Nations and our ISF partner New Zealand,' Senator Faulkner said.   

The security situation in East Timor has remained stable since the February 2008 attacks on East Timor's President and Prime Minister.  In January 2009, 100 ADF members deployed to Operation ASTUTE were withdrawn from East Timor with no significant effect on the security situation.

'The decision to reduce the number of ADF personnel recognises the ongoing calm security situation in East Timor and the efforts of the Government and people of East Timor to uphold this. It will see the ISF increase its focus on capacity-building of East Timor's military forces (F-FDTL),' Senator Faulkner said.

The coalition will continue to transition to capacity-building activities with the F-FDTL, building on successful ISF and F-FDTL projects such as the water project at Uatolari and the health clinic in Ossa Huna. 

These efforts support Australia's longer term commitment to the F-FDTLs development through the Defence Cooperation Program in East Timor.  They are part of Australia's commitment to supporting East Timor's development as a stable and prosperous nation.

The planned drawdown will commence with approximately 100 ADF members returning to Australia in mid December 2009. The subsequent drawdown to an ADF commitment of approximately 400 ADF members will occur gradually during the January to March 2010 period. 

'The Australian servicemen and women completing their deployments can now look forward to a period of leave, reconstitution and training back in Australia following their time in East Timor,' Senator Faulkner said. 

'I thank all the returning ADF personnel for their professionalism and service in this important operation.' 

The current New Zealand contribution will remain unchanged at 150 personnel.

The ISF is in East Timor at the request of the Government of East Timor and the United Nations. 

Operation ASTUTE is the ADF contribution to the ISF and New Zealand's contribution is Operation KORU.  Further information concerning Operation ASTUTE and KORU can be found at:

http://www.defence.gov.au/opEX/global/opastute/index.cfm

http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/deployments/east-timor/default.htm