United Nations Day Service - October 2004
National Manager International Deployment Group
Will Jamieson
Sunday 24 October 2004
Thankyou and welcome to the official guests Mr Juan Carlos Brandt, UN Representative for the Secretary General, Dr Helen Watchirs, Representing the Government, His Excellency Mr Stancanelli, Dean of the Diplomatic Corp, Maj Gen William Crews AO, President of the RSL, Ms Helen Disney, President of the ACT United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA), Ms Jenny Wells, Representative of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), Mr Neil Mcloud, Torrens School, Students of Torrens School, UN Veterans , Families, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Peace Park and the commemoration of this United Nations Day.
Today marks the 59th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. Australia has a long and proud tradition of involvement with the United Nations, with our involvement commencing at the time of UN foundation in 1945. Australia was one of the fifty-one (51) founding member states. The United Nations has now grown to in excess of one hundred & eighty-nine Member States (189)
Australia's proud history of involvement dates back to 1948, when Dr Herbert Evatt Australia's then Foreign Minister became the third elected President of the UN General Assembly.
Today Australia is the tenth largest contributor to the United Nations, a remarkable achievement for a country with a population of 20 million people.
The last 59 years has seen considerable change throughout the world in terms of politics, economies and international relations. Throughout all this though the United Nations has remained relevant and vital to the betterment of all. Australia plays its role in this through the provision of peacekeepers, humanitarian assistance and capacity building initiatives.
2004 also marks the 40th Anniversary of Australian police contributions to peacekeeping. In 1964 Australian police first arrived in Cyprus. In those forty years Australian police have served with the United Nations in places such as Thailand, Namibia, Cambodia, Mozambique and Timor Leste.
Out of our experiences from these and other missions, the Australian Federal Police established the International Deployment Group. The IDG is a new way that the AFP is conducting its overseas business. It is a sustainable and innovative approach to the provision of police to troubled areas that require help both as part of United Nations sanctioned activities or in response to bi-lateral and multi-lateral agreements with our neighbours.
Driving IDG's philosophy is the Australian Government's commitment to assisting regional governments in their efforts to stabilise and consolidate the provision of basic services to their people. Through providing support across the full range of government services, which policing is a significant part, it is our hope to bring long-term stability to the region. This in turn reduces the threat to Australia from organised transnational crime groups, including terrorists.
This emphasis on capacity building is shared by the United Nations and increasingly we see capacity building as a major part of all United Nations missions.
Of course Australia has not just provided military personnel to United Nations missions. Australian military and other civilian personnel have also served over sustained periods in places remote to Australia, such as Kashmir, throughout Asia and Africa.
I would like to make special mention of the Korean veterans here today. These brave veterans served in the largest UN Mission ever undertaken, a war in which has often been forgotten or overlooked. Significant sacrifices were made by all United Nations soldiers and defence personnel and we are indebted to your actions
The United Nations Day Service provides an opportunity for all Australians, military, police, humanitarian workers, electoral officials and volunteers, to be recognised as they should be.
Ladies and gentleman I wish you well on this important day.