Ahead of assuming the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament and a seat on the Executive Council of the Organisation on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons next year, Australia Wednesday appointed Ms Amanda Gorely, a career diplomat as country’s inaugural Ambassador for Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation.
“Ambassador Gorely will promote Australia’s objectives on this critical security agenda, and increase Australia’s influence, particularly as we pursue a successful outcome to the 2020 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)”, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement.
She said that Morrison Government is committed to enhancing Australia’s leadership and international advocacy on global arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as sanctions and other measures.
Without naming any country, she accused that in recent years some nations used chemical weapons as tools of assassination, or to attack civilians during conflict. Nuclear, chemical, biological and certain conventional weapons, as well as the possession of certain ballistic missiles, pose a grave risk to peace and stability.
Foreign Minister expressed her confidence that Ambassador Gorely appointment builds on Australia’s leadership role to advance non-proliferation, disarmament and sanctions goals.
Ambassador Gorely is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is currently First Assistant Secretary, International Security Division. She has previously served overseas as Ambassador to the Philippines.
