Australian Defense Materiel Minister to visit troops in Timor-Leste

Australian Defense Materiel Minister, Jason Clare would depart for Timor-Leste on Monday to visit Australian troops serving in the country, the Defense Department said in a statement released on Monday. During his two-day trip in Timor-Leste, Clare will be briefed by the Commanding Officer of the Australian-led International Stabilization Force Colonel, Luke Foster, and will also visit Forward Operating Bases and meet with both Australian and New Zealand troops. "The Minister will be also briefed on the current security environment, and planning for East Timor's 2012 national elections, " said the statement. While Australia Defense Force (ADF) currently has 400 personnel in Timor-Leste, Clare will also meet with members of Australia's Defense Cooperation Program team and be briefed on the progress of their efforts. Apart from that, Clare will meet with representatives from the East Timorese government and the United Nations (UN), including East Timor's Secretary of State for Defense, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General, Chief of the East Timor Defense Force and Director-General of East Timor's Secretariat of Defense. Clare will be accompanied by the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison and will return to Australia on Oct. 26.