FED: Australia, US to lay path for nuclear disarmament
10 Apr 2009 2:30 AM
Subject: FED: Australia, US to lay path for nuclear disarmament FED: Australia, US to lay path for nuclear disarmament
Australia and the United States will use high-level security talks in Washington to pursue their shared goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD'S nuclear disarmament push .. a major focus of Labor's foreign policy agenda .. has been given a significant boost by President BARACK OBAMA'S signal that it's also a US priority.
Foreign Minister STEPHEN SMITH canvassed the two countries' shared goals on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in talks with US Secretary of State HILLARY CLINTON on Wednesday.
The bilateral meeting came ahead of the first formal Australia-United States Ministerial meeting with the new Obama administration today.
Mr SMITH has told Ms CLINTON that Australia welcomes Mr OBAMA'S commitment to the abolition of nuclear weapons .. to strengthening non-proliferation .. and to signing up for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Afghanistan and North Korea's long-range missile test will also be high on the agenda for the full-day annual meeting .. which brings together Mr SMITH and Ms CLINTON with Defence Minister JOEL FITZGIBBON and US Defence Secretary ROBERT GATES.
The session marks the first substantive talks between the allies since Mr OBAMA held a warm first summit with Mr RUDD at the White House two weeks ago.
AAP RTV tnf/so/kms/tnf/apm/psm/
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FED: Australia, US to lay path for nuclear disarmament