Statement

by Supreme Allied Commander Europe General John Craddock following the Defence Ministerial meeting Seville, Spain

I am pleased to have been afforded the opportunity to inform nations concerning our military support and missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s people deserve an opportunity for a better future.  We must fully resource the soldiers and commanders on the ground to allow them to carry on this vital mission and continue to succeed, as they have to date.

Combined Joint Statement of Requirements (CJSOR)

Over the past few months, a detailed review of the CJSOR has been conducted by the tactical, operational, and strategic commands of NATO.  It is important to note that the CJSOR is based upon the minimum military requirement to execute the task this Alliance has set for its military.  This task includes establishing both security and stability, and they must be accomplished simultaneously. 

The revised CJSOR has been circulated to nations focusing on: the need to fill existing shortfalls; the increase required in manoeuvre forces in Regional Commands South and West; the need for additional forces to interdict insurgents crossing the border; and taking opportunity to reduce or delete those requirements that are not absolutely necessary.

Manning a mission of this scale is a continuous effort.  It must be maintained over a long period of time. The important thing is that commanders on the ground be provided the resources to the level that fully supports accomplishment of the task they’ve been given.

Achievements and way ahead

Insurgents were tactically defeated in 2006.  They failed to achieve any of the objectives they publicly stated.  ISAF now has the initiative and is building momentum. The Afghan National Army is stronger and better trained, and several Afghan Development Zones are in-place, functioning, and growing.

We will build on that success. We believe 2007 will be even better.  We now have substantially more military capability than before.  This will allow NATO to concurrently conduct Reconstruction and Development and security activities.

We are winning in Afghanistan.  I urge nations to come forward, as many already have, to provide further support tailored to our current requirements.

Kosovo

We fully support the plan recently put forward by United Nations Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

NATO has done good work to transform the KFOR structure.  We now have a robust, flexible and intelligence-focused force of some 16,000 troops that operate freely throughout the entire area, unhindered by national caveats.   We also have 35 Liaison and Monitoring Teams deployed in every municipality and we are able to accurately gauge the situation in Kosovo and permit appropriate response in a timely manner.