Statements

Right Honourable Stephen Harper (Prime Minister of Canada): Ready? Alors bonjour tout le monde. C'est un plaisir d'accueillir le plus ou moins nouveau secrétaire général de lOTAN, monsieur Stoltenberg, un ami depuis longtemps.

Nous sommes ici pour discuter de notre participation en OTAN, dans l'OTAN. C'est très important pour notre pays. Nous discuterons évidemment nos missions d'assurance contre l'agression du régime Poutine en Europe de l'Est, mais aussi des menaces mondiales qui nous présentent comme le soi-disant état islamique qui est une préoccupation de tout le monde dans l'OTAN et ailleurs.

Welcome, Secretary General Stoltenberg, a friend of long standing, former Prime Minister of Norway, and more or less the new Secretary General of NATO. This is your first trip here in that capacity.

We have a lot to talk about. Obviously we'll talk about NATO's reassurance mission to Eastern Europe to deal with the aggression we're seeing from the Putin regime and also wider global challenges such as the mission of several NATO allies against the so-called Islamic State, ISIL.

So we have a lot to discuss. NATO is a very important relationship for this country and we're really honoured that you're able to join us, Secretary General.

Secretary General Stoltenberg (NATO): Thank you so much, Mr. Prime Minister Harper. And it's great for me to be back in Canada. This is my first visit to Canada as Secretary General of NATO. And Canada is such a strong and committed ally, and you provide substantial contributions to so many different NATO missions and operations. And I look forward to discuss with you both the challenges we see emanating from a more assertive Russia responsible for aggressive actions in Ukraine, but also the threats we see emanating from the... from ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

And again, Canada is really contributing a lot, both to the assurance measures, the increased military presence of the Alliance in the eastern part of Europe, and we appreciate that very much. You contribute with planes, with ships, and with troops on the ground, taking part in exercises.

But also the work you are doing in fighting ISIL and being a part of the coalition against ISIL. NATO is also doing a lot to fight terror and to try to work with partners in the region to stabilize them because if we are able to make the region of the Middle East more stable, we will become more secure.

So I look forward to discuss this and other issues with you and its great to see you again.