Australia’s foreign minister includes Malta on tour of Europe, US

Bob Carr, who was sworn in last month as foreign minister after being drafted to Government by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, has included Malta in his itinerary for official talks this week in the US and Europe.

On the agenda are talks with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Senator Carr will also meet with President of the UN General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser and the head of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet.

The former NSW premier, who came to the role of Foreign Minister after Kevin Rudd quit to challenge Julia Gillard, said that he was a "strong believer in the United Nations and in the need for Australia to make a real contribution to its work".

"That is why I am visiting New York at the beginning of my term as Foreign Minister to demonstrate my personal commitment and that of the Australian Government to the United Nations," Senator Carr said.

On behalf of Kevin Rudd, Australia has spent millions of dollars and significant diplomatic energy on trying to gain a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.

Senator Carr said he has a "close and long association with the United States" and was keen to visit Australia's key ally early on.

"I look forward to meeting Hillary Clinton, other senior Administration figures, as well as Members of Congress, to advance Australia's interests and continue our close engagement with the United States on key regional and global issues," he said.

In Europe, apart from Malta, Senator Carr will visit the UK, Belgium, and Turkey.

"Meetings in London, with some of our closest international allies, will provide an opportunity to discuss strategic issues of common interest," he said.

Australia's defence minister Stephen Smith will join Senator Carr in Brussels to take part in a high level security meeting on Afghanistan.