Defence Enhances Regional Peacekeeping Cooperation

Defence Enhances Regional Peacekeeping Cooperation

The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon, announced today that Thailand and Australia will jointly host a desktop exercise in Bangkok, aimed at enhancing regional cooperation in peacekeeping.

Exercise Pirap Jabiru, commencing 21 August, has been developed as a joint venture between the ADF Peacekeeping Centre and the Royal Thai Armed Forces Peace Operations Centre. It will include presentations from Thai, Australian and regional peacekeeping experts, non-government organisations and the United Nations.

Australia and Thailand have participated in exercise Pirap Jabiru since 1998, and the exercise was expanded to include regional participants in 2006. This year, for the first time, the exercise will include regional police as well as military representatives.

“The evolution of exercise Pirap Jabiru to focus on civil-military cooperation in peacekeeping operations is a significant step forward in regional peacekeeping cooperation and a positive development for regional security,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Participants from 15 countries will discuss a series of problems relating to peacekeeping activities undertaken under the authority of a UN mandate. The discussions and presentations will provide participants with a greater understanding of national planning processes and provide an opportunity to develop shared approaches to address the complexities of peacekeeping operations.

“By increasing our ability to work together to meet future peacekeeping challenges, exercise Pirap Jabiru 2008 will contribute to the region’s ability to maintain a stable and secure environment,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“It is important that regional countries work together to further improve and coordinate our efforts in regional security,” he said.

Exercise Pirap Jabiru will be held in Bangkok from 21 to 29 August 2008

ENDS

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