Subject: Clinton joins in praise of Australian
troops and police in East Timor
Australian Broadcasting Corp. March 7, 2000
Clinton joins in praise of Australian troops and police in East Timor
Australia's troops and police officers who served in the multinational
force in East Timor, have been honoured at a parliamentary reception in
the national capital, Canberra.
Prime Minister John Howard has thanked those involved in the five-month
operation, and singled out Interfet Commander Major-General Peter Cosgrove
for special praise.
The role played by Australia in East Timor has also been praised in a
letter from United States President Bill Clinton to John Howard, as Lyndal
Curtis reports:
The US President has congratulated Mr Howard on the steadfast
leadership his Government showed in the changing circumstances in East
Timor and thanked General Cosgrove and the Australian forces for what the
U-S leader says was a tough job very well done.
Mr Clinton says Australia has made an immense contribution to restoring
security and stability in East Timor, and has earned the well deserved
respect of the international community for the leadership it exercised.
