Fed: Defence, strategic analysts slam New Zealand again

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2000
Fed: Defence, strategic analysts slam New Zealand again

A seminar of top level Australian defence analysts has concluded Australia is surrounded
by states that are either unstable, unviable, or, in the case of New Zealand, useless.

In a brutal assessment of Australia's strategic circumstances in the leadup to Wednesday's
release of the defence white paper, the seminar concludes Australia faces daunting defence
challenges.

And, it finds Australia can expect little help from across the Tasman.

However, neither were Australian sensitivities spared.

The report says Australia's East Timor operation has been widely hailed in Australia
as a triumph.

But it says as a result Australia has lost its strategic partnership with Indonesia,
alienated the Indonesian armed forces and boosted secession pressures in the region.





The seminar was held in August and was attended by 30 senior officials from defence,
foreign affairs, academia, the media and industry.

AAP RTV mb/daw/wz/jn

KEYWORD: USELESS (CANBERRA)

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