Fed: Gates touches down for high level discussions

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-2008
Fed: Gates touches down for high level discussions

By Sandra O'Malley, Diplomatic Correspondent

CANBERRA, Feb 22 AAP/Agencies - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has touched down
in Canberra for the first senior level discussions in Australia between the Rudd government
and the Bush administration.

Despite the change in government following last year's federal election, Mr Gates expects
it to be very much business as usual between Australia and its most important ally.

"We anticipate there will be a great deal of continuity. We have a lot of common interests.

We need to initiate an …