Foreign ministerial opens with discussion on security hot spots
NATO Foreign Ministers started their ministerial Tuesday (23 April) with discussions on a wide range of security issues including North Korea and recent developments across the Middle East and North Africa. “We will discuss North Korea’s provocative actions and threatening statements. They remain a serious challenge for regional and international stability and security. And the international community must send a strong and united message”, said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, arriving for the talks.
Mr Fogh Rasmussen said that “today is an opportunity to further enhance transatlantic dialogue on a wide range of security issues facing NATO through and beyond 2014: continued turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa; the approaching 2013 milestone in Afghanistan; and developments in the Korean Peninsula”.
Today’s meeting will also be an opportunity “to consult with our ISAF partners and to keep the momentum of our high-level political dialogue with Russia,” the Secretary General said.
Foreign Ministers will assess the developments in the Middle East and North Africa. “We can all see that the situation in Syria is getting worse. We cannot ignore the risks of a regional spill-over with possible implications for Allied security. NATO has come to the support of Turkey with the rapid deployment of Patriots, but we must continue to remain vigilant,” Mr. Fogh Rasmussen underlined.
NATO Foreign Ministers will also exchange views on the wider Middle East with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov within the NATO-Russia Council, as part of NATO-Russia regular political dialogue.
“And in our practical cooperation with Russia, we are making steady progress. Today, I expect we will agree to launch Phase Two of our Helicopter Maintenance Trust Fund, which will expand the training of Afghan maintenance crews. This would be a significant step,” the Secretary General told reporters before the beginning of the meeting.
Today, Foreign Ministers will assess progress in the Afghan mission together with ISAF partners. “I expect –we will endorse efforts to develop appropriate, coherent and effective funding for the Afghan forces after 2014. This will send a clear message of commitment,” Mr. Fogh Rasmussen stressed.