Media Release

Thursday, 15 February 2001

Australian of the Year and Chief of Australia's Army Lieutenant-General Peter Cosgrove will be the keynote speaker at an Adelaide University conference this week.

The Round-table Conference on Australia's Role in Regional Affairs will discuss the direction of our strategic and political efforts in the Asia-Pacific region in the new millennium.

"This forum comes at a most appropriate time, given the recent release of the Defence White Paper," says organiser Dr Felix Patrikeeff, from Adelaide University's Department of Politics.

"The expertise assembled for this conference is the most impressive we've seen in Adelaide-and perhaps the nation-being made up of leading international and national authorities on the subject."

Issues to be discussed include:

• The East Timor problem and Australia's place in its resolution
• Indonesian-Australian relations at a time of renewed crisis
• Australian armed forces after the Defence White Paper and their strategic role in the Asia-Pacific
• Australia's changing ties with the United States during the Bush presidency

Round-table Conference Australia & its Role in Regional Affairs
Thursday, 15 February 2001
3.00-7.00pm
The Council Room
7th Floor Wills Building
Adelaide University

Organised by the Department of Politics in conjunction with the Centre for Asian Studies at Adelaide University and the Australian Institute of International Affairs (South Australian Branch).