Alexander Downer
Alexander Downer
Alexander John Gosse Downer, ACis a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history. He was also the Leader of the Opposition for eight months from 1994 to 1995. Until early February 2014, Downer was the United Nations Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus...
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth9 September 1951
Alexander Downer quotes about
finding lasting nuclear peaceful solution
finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the nuclear issue.
concern longer sentence short
It's of some concern to us that the sentence is as short as it is. We're disappointed about that. We'd like to see a longer sentence,
american-athlete curb fraud help identity misuse people possible terrorists
It will help curb identity fraud and possible misuse by people smugglers, terrorists and other transnational criminals.
people warning
It is very important that people take this warning seriously.
additional chief days deeply disturbing saying submission weapons
It's a deeply disturbing additional submission which confirms what (U.N. chief weapons inspector) Hans Blix was saying 10 days ago,
armed disarm east falls force forces good job move perform police recent sides stop task violence
The onus of that task falls on the armed forces and the police force in East Timor and they haven't done a good job in recent times. It's important that they perform more effectively and do everything they can to stop the violence and move to disarm the two sides -- the paramilitaries and the pro-independence side,
access crucial european market meeting offer progress successful union
We want to see progress on agriculture, we want to see the European Union come back with a better market access offer that's going to be crucial to a successful meeting in Hong Kong,
east indonesia security situation
We have said many times before that ... at the very least, Indonesia is responsible for the security situation in East Timor,
intelligence people services supporting
We want to keep supporting the Indonesian government, the Indonesian police, the Indonesian intelligence services and, of course, the people of Indonesia,
thinking wife prime
Yes, I don't think I shall ever become Prime Minister. Hard as that is to swallow, I tell you one person who is very happy always to see me say that, and that's my wife.
party leader deputies
I'm not terribly focused on whether I even could ever become the Leader of the Liberal Party or the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the future.
views media people
So this is all part of a free society. People are entitled to hold whatever view they want, and the media can report things how they wish.
father names house
My father had the same name as me but he was known as Alec. He was a member of the House of Representatives.
growing-up father ideas
Well people often ask me how I felt growing up with a father who was a politician and who was often away. But when I'm asked that question I often reflect on my inability really to be able to answer it in any relative sense because I never grew up with a father doing anything else. So I just have no idea what it would be like otherwise.