MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Australia is providing diplomatic training for ten officials from the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For the next five weeks the officials will attend a course coordinated by the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University in Canberra and sponsored by AusAID.
The course will provide the officials with academic training in relevant areas such as international relations, international law, economics, development, trade and finance, diplomacy and computer training.
The group will also visit the High Court, Parliament House and the Australian Electoral Commission to see first hand how Australia's democratic institutions function.
This training will not only provide the diplomats with increased skills in international relations but will further strengthen the strong relationship between Australia and the newly established Iraq Interim Government.
The arrival of the diplomats builds on the recent arrival of a group of 25 Iraqi Agriculture officials who are training at Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia in agricultural policy and management and agribusiness systems.
These training programs demonstrate the practical role Australia is playing in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq.
Australia has now provided more than $125 million in assistance to Iraq.
Media inquiries:
Chris Kenny (Ministerial) 02 62 77 7500 or 0419 206 890
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489