NATO Response Force Inauguration Ceremony

On 15 October 2003 at 1100 hrs, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General James L. Jones, will inaugurate the new NATO Response Force (NRF) by handing over the NRF-flag to the Joint Operational Commander, General Sir Jack Deverell, during a small military ceremony at the NATO headquarters in Brunssum/NL.

The ceremony is the first visible event for this new NATO force, where representatives from various member nations’ contributing units will participate. The development of this force has become a centrepiece and an engine of change for the Alliance as it transforms and positions itself to meet the threats to security and stability in the 21st Century.

The NRF is designed to be robust, at high readiness, fully trained and certified and prepared to tackle the full spectrum of missions, including force. When NATO decides to employ it, the NRF will be ready to deploy in five days and will be able to sustain itself for 30 days.

Within one year, the NRF is expected to achieve Initial Operational Capability and to reach Full Operational Capability by fall 2006, ready to be tailored to a specific operation as required to include non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian aid, crisis response including peacekeeping, counter terrorism, and embargo operations.

Note to the editors:
The programme and tight security requires media representatives to arrive no later than 10:00 am
11:00 am Military ceremony, chaired by SACEUR
11:45 am Press Conference with SACEUR, CINCNORTH and Commander NRF
12:30 one-on-one interview opportunities

If you wish to attend this event, please respond to HQ AFNORTH and register by using attached registration form as soon as possible. Please use the registration for any specific requirements you might have.

E-mail address HQ AFNORTH: pio@afnorth.nato.int
Tel.: 0031-(0)45-526-2409
Fax: 0031-(0)45-526-3095
After duty hours: mobile phone: 0031-(0)651083227

Please note, transportation will be organized and provided only for Brussels-based journalists wishing to attend the ceremony. For all those not yet having confirmed transportation with SHAPE PIO, please register as soon as possible by e-mailing to media@shape.nato.int and courtesy copy to hartmut.beilmann@shape.nato.int

SHAPE PIO will provide transportation from/back to Brussels NATO HQ. Details and timelines will follow. After the media opportunities at Brunssum, an immediate transport will be provided back to Brussels NATO HQ, followed by one after the completion of filing.