Press point

Good afternoon.

As you will have seen, NATO Allies have just decided to extend my mandate as Secretary General by one year, until the end of July 2014.

I am honoured by the trust and support Allied governments have shown me.

My first years in office presented many challenges. We developed and agreed a new Strategic Concept for the Alliance. We took crucial decisions to develop a NATO Missile Defence system to protect our people and territory against a grave and growing threat. We reached out to Russia and our partners around the world. And we successfully enforced the historic resolution of the United Nations Security Council to protect civilians in Libya.

But we still face other pressing tasks: completing the process of transition in Afghanistan within the timeline we have set, strengthening our unique network of partners and keeping our Alliance fit for the future.

I have dedicated myself to these issues since I took office. I am privileged to have had the chance to lead this Alliance through these testing times. This is a great responsibility, and I am determined to live up to it.