Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CANBERRA29
2009-01-09 03:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
GOA DOWNPLAYS MEDIA SPECULATION ON AUSTRALIAN ROLE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBY #0029 0090318 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090318Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0797 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0737 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1978 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000029
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/PPA DONNA HOPKINS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL AS
SUBJECT: GOA DOWNPLAYS MEDIA SPECULATION ON AUSTRALIAN ROLE
AGAINST SOMALI PIRACY
REF: STATE 126055
Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000029
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/PPA DONNA HOPKINS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL AS
SUBJECT: GOA DOWNPLAYS MEDIA SPECULATION ON AUSTRALIAN ROLE
AGAINST SOMALI PIRACY
REF: STATE 126055
Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)
1. (C/NF) Lee Kerr, Director, United Nations and
Commonwealth Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, advised that media reports on redeployment of an
Australian warship to the Horn of Africa for anti-piracy work
were completely unfounded. She said the Department of
Defence (ADOD) has not briefed the government on any
redeployment recommendations and that ideas are still being
discussed informally within ADOD. She suggested it was
possible that the comments made by the Chief of Defence
Forces (CDF) came from those informal discussions. She
stated that discussions thus far have been strictly internal
to ADOD, that the USG is not involved in the discussions, and
the USG has not asked for Australian participation in
anti-piracy efforts through any channels.
2. (SBU) CDF Angus Houston, commented to the media that
Australia is considering redeployment of the warship HMAS
Paramatta from the Persian Gulf to either the Horn of Africa
or the north Indian Ocean for anti-piracy work. An ADOD
spokesperson and Defence Minister Fitzgibbon both indicated
that no decision has been made on the ship's redeployment.
Media reports also indicate that the U.S. has reportedly
asked Australia to join Task Force 151. DM Fitzgibbon was
misquoted to have said that the U.S. has requested the ship
to be assigned to other tasks; his actual statement was that
at the request of the U.S., Australian naval forces were to
be reassigned to other maritime missions within the Gulf.
CLUNE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/PPA DONNA HOPKINS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL AS
SUBJECT: GOA DOWNPLAYS MEDIA SPECULATION ON AUSTRALIAN ROLE
AGAINST SOMALI PIRACY
REF: STATE 126055
Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)
1. (C/NF) Lee Kerr, Director, United Nations and
Commonwealth Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, advised that media reports on redeployment of an
Australian warship to the Horn of Africa for anti-piracy work
were completely unfounded. She said the Department of
Defence (ADOD) has not briefed the government on any
redeployment recommendations and that ideas are still being
discussed informally within ADOD. She suggested it was
possible that the comments made by the Chief of Defence
Forces (CDF) came from those informal discussions. She
stated that discussions thus far have been strictly internal
to ADOD, that the USG is not involved in the discussions, and
the USG has not asked for Australian participation in
anti-piracy efforts through any channels.
2. (SBU) CDF Angus Houston, commented to the media that
Australia is considering redeployment of the warship HMAS
Paramatta from the Persian Gulf to either the Horn of Africa
or the north Indian Ocean for anti-piracy work. An ADOD
spokesperson and Defence Minister Fitzgibbon both indicated
that no decision has been made on the ship's redeployment.
Media reports also indicate that the U.S. has reportedly
asked Australia to join Task Force 151. DM Fitzgibbon was
misquoted to have said that the U.S. has requested the ship
to be assigned to other tasks; his actual statement was that
at the request of the U.S., Australian naval forces were to
be reassigned to other maritime missions within the Gulf.
CLUNE