ID :
64851
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 13:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/64851
The shortlink copeid
Canberra names Indian-Australian as envoy to New Delhi
Canberra names Indian-Australian as envoy to New Delhi
Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, June 8 (PTI) Australia Monday named its
intelligence chief Peter Varghese, an Indian-Australian and a
close aide of Premier Kevin Rudd as its new High Commissioner
to India.
Varghese, the current head of the Office of National
Assessments (ONA), will take over in August from John
McCarthy, who has served in the job since 2004.
He will also hold concurrent accreditation to Bhutan
and is expected to take up his appointment in August 2009.
Varghese served as Australia's High Commissioner to
Malaysia from 2000-2002. He also served in Australian missions
in Vienna, Washington and Tokyo.
The announcement comes at a sensitive time in
bilateral relations, with the billion dollar foreign student
market under threat due to spate of attacks on Indian students
in Melbourne and Sydney. More than 80,000 Indians are
currently studying in Australia.
Announcing Varghese's appointment, Foreign Minister
Stephen Smith said Australia's engagement with India was
expanding rapidly in recognition of the country's growing
economic and strategic importance and influence.
Australia and India also engage closely on strategic
and defence matters, Smith said.
"Military engagement occurs across the full range of
activities, including ship visits, service-to-service level
talks, professional exchanges and research and development
collaboration," Smith said.
"In 2008 Australia and India decided to step up
strategic cooperation by holding annual talks between the
chiefs of our defence forces, and by strengthening
intelligence and counter-terrorism cooperation," the Foreign
Minister said.
India is also Australia's fastest growing export
market with energy and minerals the main drivers but also
education services.
ONA is an independent body that directly is directly
accountable to the Australian Prime Minister. It provides
"all-source assessments on international political, strategic
and economic developments" to the Prime Minister and senior
Ministers of the government.
Varghese is a graduate in History from Queensland and
is married with one son. PTI NC
AM
NNNN
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.
Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, June 8 (PTI) Australia Monday named its
intelligence chief Peter Varghese, an Indian-Australian and a
close aide of Premier Kevin Rudd as its new High Commissioner
to India.
Varghese, the current head of the Office of National
Assessments (ONA), will take over in August from John
McCarthy, who has served in the job since 2004.
He will also hold concurrent accreditation to Bhutan
and is expected to take up his appointment in August 2009.
Varghese served as Australia's High Commissioner to
Malaysia from 2000-2002. He also served in Australian missions
in Vienna, Washington and Tokyo.
The announcement comes at a sensitive time in
bilateral relations, with the billion dollar foreign student
market under threat due to spate of attacks on Indian students
in Melbourne and Sydney. More than 80,000 Indians are
currently studying in Australia.
Announcing Varghese's appointment, Foreign Minister
Stephen Smith said Australia's engagement with India was
expanding rapidly in recognition of the country's growing
economic and strategic importance and influence.
Australia and India also engage closely on strategic
and defence matters, Smith said.
"Military engagement occurs across the full range of
activities, including ship visits, service-to-service level
talks, professional exchanges and research and development
collaboration," Smith said.
"In 2008 Australia and India decided to step up
strategic cooperation by holding annual talks between the
chiefs of our defence forces, and by strengthening
intelligence and counter-terrorism cooperation," the Foreign
Minister said.
India is also Australia's fastest growing export
market with energy and minerals the main drivers but also
education services.
ONA is an independent body that directly is directly
accountable to the Australian Prime Minister. It provides
"all-source assessments on international political, strategic
and economic developments" to the Prime Minister and senior
Ministers of the government.
Varghese is a graduate in History from Queensland and
is married with one son. PTI NC
AM
NNNN
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.
