NATO Secretary General at the UN General Assembly
The NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen met the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on the margin of the UN General Assembly in New York. Mr Rasmussen stressed that NATO operates on the basis of a UN mandate on three continents, in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Libya. NATO, he said, is a modern security organisation which operates in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.
The discussion focused on NATO's successful implementation of the UN mandate in Libya, the progress of transition in Afghanistan, and continued consultations between the two organisations.
The NATO Secretary General also met the Emir of Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, to exchange views on current regional developments and ways of deepening cooperation. Mr Rasmussen thanked the Emir for Qatar's significant contribution to Operation Unified Protector and informed him of the decision for a technical rollover of the operation, while keeping the situation in Libya under constant review.
The NATO Secretary General also held talks with the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. Mr Rasmussen voiced appreciation for Ukraine's contribution to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
Also on the agenda were areas where cooperation between NATO and Ukraine could move forward. These include tackling emerging security challenges, such as cyber attacks, piracy and, energy security, as well as operations. The Secretary General stressed the importance of the rule of law as a basis for constructive cooperation and a facilitator of Ukraine's European aspirations.
Mr Rasmussen invited President Yanukovych to address the North Atlantic Council in Brussels in order to continue the dialogue between NATO and Ukraine.