NATO Deputy Secretary General receives prestigious Order of the Crown
NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow was awarded the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown’ on Tuesday (27 September 2016) in recognition of his years of distinguished service for the Alliance. The award ceremony was led by Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders, at the Cercle de Lorraine.
As one of Belgium’s highest honours, the Grand Cross recognises exceptional public service. Accepting the award, Ambassador Vershbow spoke of his ten-year career in Belgium, and praised the growth of the European project. “From Herman Van Rompuy to the great Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian politicians have been at the heart of nurturing and growing Europe from the ashes of the Second World War to what it is today: a place of peace, of friendships across borders and of greater prosperity,” he said. The Deputy Secretary General stressed that Belgium has been a strong and committed host, member and friend to NATO.
After ten years with the Alliance, Ambassador Vershbow will leave NATO in October, to be succeeded by Rose Gottemoeller.