-When we opened the COBRA GOLD exercise a year ago in Korat [Thailand] most of us knew very little about the developing situation in East Timor. Today, we all know about the key role played by INTERFET and UNTAET multinational peacekeeping forces in restoring stability to that troubled area. We applaud the Royal Thai Government and the Royal Thai Armed Forces for sending combat troops to East Timor to participate in INTERFET — and for continuing to participate in the UNTAET force. Our support of the Thai deployment to East Timor — through provision of air and sea assets to help transport troops and equipment — is a good example of how we are applying skills learned in exercises like COBRA GOLD to real world situations. It also demonstrates how our forces can work together, drawing on our respective strengths, to advance our shared objectives.

The UNTAET-PKF security operations varied from vehicle patrols at checkpoints to foot and mounted vehicle patrols throughout the territory and along the tactical coordination line between East and West Timor. Asia-Pacific participants in the PKF as of April 2002 included the following:

• The Thai battalion responsible for security in Baucau, Viqueque, and Lauterm districts.

• The Australian and New Zealand battalions in Suai district. Within the New Zealand Battalion were troops from Fiji, Nepal, and Singapore.

• The Philippines provided military police and a Headquarters support unit.

• The Republic of Korea battalion in the Occussi enclave maintained security.