The Secretary General said that he hopes Greece can consider making a larger contribution towards reaching the next phase in the ISAF operation, by providing more personnel to help train the Afghan National Security Forces. "I also hope that during my term, we will see an improvement in relations between two very important Allies: Turkey and Greece. While these are bilateral issues, the effects of these tensions are felt far beyond, NATO-EU relations being the most obvious", he said.
The Secretary General also discussed with his interlocutors the importance of ensuring that difficulties in NATO-EU relations do not negatively affect the safety or effectiveness of personnel on the ground. He noted that Greece can play a leadership role within the Alliance and in the EU, in achieving true Euro-Atlantic integration for the entire Balkan region.
During the visit, the Secretary General laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
