The Hon. Julie Bishop opened the CAIS conference, The Arab World, Iran and the Major Powers: Transitions and Challenges, held at ANU on 26-27 June 2014. ANU Vice Chancellor Professor Ian Young welcomed Ms Bishop, members of the diplomatic community, other distinguished guests and all attendees to the conference.

Ms Bishop used her speech to acknowledge the important role a centre such as CAIS plays in 'the cross-fertilisation of ideas, between Government and academia, to bring the finest, most informed and considered views to bear on our foreign policy and our international relations – absolutely in Australia’s national interest in a very tangible way.' She added 'this conference provides an important opportunity to focus on the bigger picture - to discuss political issues confronting the region, but to also consider its possibilities.'

The Minister addressed the Australian Government's foreign policies in relation the Middle East stressing both the complexity of the issues and events of current concern and the government's ongoing commitment to providing aid and assistance to the region. In her speech Ms Bishop referred to the rise of ISIS in Iraq, the ongoing conflict in Syria, the Israel/ Palestine question and the trial of Peter Greste and his colleagues in Egypt.

Ms Bishop concluded her speech by saying, 'While this region is complex, and often volatile, it is also an area of great economic dynamism and potential. The Australian Government is not focused only on the challenges and the negatives. We are also focusing on the vast opportunities presented by the Middle East. Economic diplomacy is a key pillar of the Government’s international engagement, and the Middle East region offers significant potential - just as traditional diplomacy sought peace, so economic diplomacy seeks prosperity'.

A full transcript of the Minister's speech can be found on the DFAT website