AMSTERDAM -- He is on a three-day visit to Australia, and his comments came during a speech at the Sydney Institute.

He believes that European Union countries should widen their views beyond the traditional ways of co-operating in military alliances. He praised the way the Australian and Dutch soldiers were working together in the restive southern Afghan province of Uruzgan.

The minister reiterated that Dutch troops would continue to lead the ISAF mission in Uruzgan only until 2010. However, he believes it is "too early to talk about the situation" beyond that date. Mr Verhagen said there had as yet been no discussion within the government about a possible Dutch role in Afghanistan after 2010.

Radio Netherlands/ Expatica