NATO Secretary General thanks Iceland for its commitment
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen thanked Iceland’s Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson for his country’s commitment to NATO during his visit to Alliance headquarters on Tuesday (16 July 2013). “Iceland makes a difference within NATO, by bringing your expertise and your experience to our political discussions, and you make a difference on our operations,” the Secretary General said after meeting the prime minister.
He also commended Iceland for its efforts in training bomb-disposal experts, which Mr. Fogh Rasmussen said were helping to save lives in operations. The Secretary General also noted Iceland’s valuable assistance in Afghanistan in areas such as health care and disaster relief. “These areas are vital for development and development is vital for security and stability,” he said.
During their meeting, the two discussed NATO’s security priorities and the ISAF mission. Mr. Fogh Rasmussen stressed the importance of ensuring that NATO stays ready to deal with any crisis and threat after the end of the Alliance-led combat mission in Afghanistan. “We must make sure our forces have the right equipment and conduct the right exercises to do any task we set for them,” he said, adding that in all these efforts, “every single Ally has a role to play.”