NATO Secretary General meets Belgian Prime Minister
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen met with Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy on 17 September 2009 in Brussels. Foreign Minister Yves Leterme and Defence Minister Pieter De Crem were also present.
Several key topics on NATO's agenda were discussed, like NATO's operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo, the launch of the New Strategic Concept debate, the NATO-Russia relationship, and the cooperation between NATO and the EU.
Mr. Rasmussen praised the Belgian contribution to NATO's ISAF operation in Afghanistan. "The Belgian troops play an important role in Afghanistan, both in Kabul as in the South". He called upon all Allies to increase their efforts in Afghanistan and to send more troops in order to be able to enhance and accelerate the training of the Afghan national security forces.
The Secretary General also thanked the Belgian authorities for their excellent support as host nation to the NATO Headquarters and its staff, and welcomed the progress that was made in the development of the new NATO Headquarters.