Australian PRIME Minister John Howard told United States President George W Bush,who is in Australia to take part in APEC summit that there are no plans to cut back on Australian troops in Iraq. Guest in honor Mr George Bush thanked the Prime Minister in turn for the support in Iraq.
"In our discussions I made it very clear to the president that our commitment to Iraq remains," Mr Howard told reporters at the two leaders' joint press conference. "Australian forces will remain at their present levels in Iraq, not based on any calender but based on conditions on the ground. "Until we are satisfied that a further contribution to ensuring that the Iraqis can look after themselves cannot usefully be made by the Australian forces, they will not be reduced or withdrawn."
Mr Bush said the US and Australia were engaged in historic and important work in Iraq. "And I appreciate the contribution that the Australians have made," he said. "I believe that when the final chapters of the 21st century are written people will say we appreciate the courage and sacrifice made by our respected countries in laying the foundations for peace."
Mr Bush said it was important for Australia's security that its troops remained in Iraq.
Australia currently has some 1,500 personnel in the Middle East with about 900 in Iraq including the Over watch Battle group based at Tallil in the country's south.
Mr Bush is to meet Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd tomorrow morning for talks, including on Labor's pledge to conduct a staged withdrawal of the battle group from Iraq should it win government at the election later this year.
The US president said he was looking forward to the meeting and expected an honest exchange of views.
"I believe it's necessary and I believe we can (win in Iraq and Afghanistan). I'm looking forward to hearing his opinion," he said.
Two great leader of two greatest democratic countries make an orderly commitment to bring peace to the region and establish a peaceful environment in the regions where people of all sorts can live with the peoples rule. Their democratic values may play a pivotal role to carve out a better tomorrow.
input from news.com.au.
