Governor General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove visits Middle East region

General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, AK, MC is a retired senior Australian Army officer and the Governor-General of Australia. A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, he fought in the Vietnam War, receiving the Military Cross. He has held a distinguished military career where he rose to prominence as Chief of the Defence Force. In January 2014, Cosgrove was named Governor-General of Australia. He was sworn in on 28 March 2014, and made a Knight of the Order of Australia on the same date.

Sir Peter Cosgrove met many prominent leaders in the Middle East to further build on the advances between Australia and the Middle East nations. Many of the discussions considered bilateral relations and ways to enhance them, particularly in tourism, education, trade and air transport. The meetings also discussed the importance of current regional developments and the means to boost opportunities for peace and stability in the region and the world.

UAE

Sir Peter Cosgrove met UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Zabeel Palace. The Governor General reflected on the great advances in the relationship over the past 20 years. The meeting was attended by many prominent members of the UAE including, Dr. Obaid Al Hairi Salem Al Ketbi, UAE Ambassador to Australia.

HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces welcomed Sir Peter Cosgrove to the UAE.. The bilateral relations between UAE and Australia have witnessed remarkable progress in the recent years since the exchange of notes established UAE in 1975. Since the opening of the UAE Embassy in Canberra in 1997, the two countries have enjoyed long term bilateral relations based on trade in the areas of oil, gas, minerals, meat, livestock and others. They also have cooperation ties in the fields of military, defence and security.

Turkey

In Ankara, Turkey, at Antikabir, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, as guests of the Commandant, Colonel Muzaffer Taytak, visited the Ataturk Mausoleum and laid a wreath in honour of the former President of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, as guests of the President of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Mrs Emine Erdoğan, attended a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace. The Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove attended a State Lunch hosted in their honour by President Erdoğan and Mrs Erdoğan.

In the Gallipoli Heritage Park, Turkey, the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove, as guests of the Governor of Ҫanakkale, Mr Ahmet Ҫinar, visited the 57th Regiment Memorial and laid a wreath in honour of Turkish soldiers who died during the Gallipoli Campaign. Afterwards, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, accompanied by Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Angus Campbell DSC AM, Mr Keith Payne VC AM, Corporal Mark Donaldson VC, Corporal Daniel Keighran VC and Mr Doug and Mrs Kaye Baird, parents of the late Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG, visited The Nek and Walkers Ridge. At the Anzac Commemorative Site, the Governor-General attended an ‘Honouring Warrior Spirits’ Ceremony and at the Australian Lone Pine Memorial, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove attended a service to commemorate the century of the battle of Lone Pine, at which Their Excellencies laid a wreath, and the Governor-General delivered the commemorative address.

In Gallipoli, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, accompanied by distinguished military guests visited Hill 60 Cemetery, at which Their Excellencies laid a wreath in honour of allied soldiers who died during the Gallipoli Campaign. Later, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, accompanied by Chief of Army, and Australian Victoria Cross recipients visited Hill 10 Cemetery, at which Their Excellencies laid a wreath in honour of allied soldiers who died during the Gallipoli Campaign.

At the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, as guests of the Governor-General of New Zealand, His Excellency Lieutenant General the Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM QSO, attended a service to commemorate the centenary of the battle of Chunuk Bair, and laid a wreath in honour of New Zealand soldiers who died during the Gallipoli Campaign.

In Ҫanakkale, the Governor-General, as guest of the Northern Sea Area Commander of the Turkish Navy, Vice Admiral Hasan Korlu, visited the Ҫanakkale Naval Museum to formally handover World War I items on behalf of the Australian War Memorial.

IRAQ

At Ҫanakkale Airport, Sir Peter Cosgrove, as guest of the Governor of Ҫanakkale, Mr Ahmet Çınar, attended a farewell ceremony and at Baghdad International Airport, the Governor-General, accompanied by the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Angus Campbell DSC AM, was greeted by the Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, Her Excellency Ms Lyndall Sachs PSM, and the Commander Joint Task Force 633, Rear Admiral Trevor Jones AM CSC RAN.

At the Australian Embassy Baghdad, the Governor-General, as guest of the Australian Ambassador, met with Australian officials working in Iraq. As guest of the President of the Republic of Iraq, His Excellency Mr Fouad Massoum, at the Presidential Palace, the Governor-General, attended a ceremonial welcome. Afterwards, the Governor-General met with the President of the Republic of Iraq and attended a lunch hosted in his honour by the President of the Republic of Iraq. Later, at the Office of the Prime Minister, the Governor-General met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, His Excellency Dr Haider al-Abadi.

In Baghdad, the Governor-General, as guest of the Commanding Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major, and accompanied by Australian Victoria Cross recipients, Mr Keith Payne VC AM, Corporal Mark Donaldson VC, Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG and Corporal Daniel Keighran VC, met with Australian Special Operations Command service personnel providing advice and assistance to the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service.

In the evening, in Taji, the Governor-General, as guest of the Commanding Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major, and accompanied by the Australian Victoria Cross recipients, met with Australian and New Zealand service personnel assisting with the training of Iraqi Security Forces. Afterwards they attended a dinner with Australian Defence Force personnel serving in Taji.

Kuala Lumpur

At Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the Australian High Commissioner’s residence, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, as guests of High Commissioner Smith attended a reception.