Opening remarks

by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Foreign Ministers session

  • 19 May. 2016 -
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  • Last updated: 19 May. 2016 15:51

(As delivered)

I will start by saying that today we will start with a meeting against the backdrop of instability from many directions. 

As we prepare for the Warsaw Summit, in just 50 days, we are strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence.

But we must also look beyond NATO’s borders.  To project stability to our neighbours.  Which makes us more secure as well.

Therefore we must help our partners to help themselves. We are already doing that in Afghanistan. We are training Iraqi officers, supporting partners like Jordan and Tunisia. Assisting partners to the east, including Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. And working with the European Union to help cut the lines of human trafficking in the Aegean.

NATO has the tools to make a difference. And we have the potential to do more.

This is what we will discuss today. Because by keeping our neighbourhood stable, we will be more secure. 

That concludes my public remarks.

And I thank the media for being in the room and then I wish you a happy day. So we will continue.