168th NATO Chiefs of Defence meeting
NATO and Partners’ Chiefs of Defence will gather at NATO Headquarters for the first Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence format of 2013. General Knud Bartels, Chairman of the Military Committee, will chair the discussions on NATO Transformation post 2014, Afghanistan, and partnership. Admiral Jim Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and General Jean-Paul Paloméros, Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation will support sessions with their insights.
The 168th NATO Chiefs of Defence meeting will begin with a session with the CHODS from the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) partner countries.
The second session will focus on Afghanistan. General John Allen, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), will brief NATO and Partners on the current situation and progress of transition to Afghan security lead. Subsequently, the Military Committee will be updated on the development of the planning for the post 2014 mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces.
In their respective meeting formats, the Chiefs of Defence of Russia and Euro Atlantic Partnership Countries will discuss military-to-military cooperation in support of NATO core tasks and emerging security challenges.
On Thursday, the Military Committee will review the progress of the NATO Mission in Kosovo and other current NATO operations, including counter piracy. Other sessions will be dedicated to setting out a coherent roadmap for military transformation, with Smart Defence and the Connected Forces Initiative as core tools.
The aim throughout the two days will be to ensure that the NATO military structures and capabilities remain fit for purpose and matched to the core tasks of collective defence, crisis management and cooperative security.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
| 07.45: | Media Pool pick up in NATO Press Area |
| 08.15: | First session of the Military Committee in Chiefs of Staff Session - Opening remarks by General Knud Bartels |
Thursday, 17 January 2013
| 16.00: | Media debrief by General Knud Bartels in NATO Press Area (Room Brosio) |
Imagery
Photos and video of all opening sessions will be available on-line at www.nato.int/ims shortly after each meeting. The media debrief will be made available on the NATO TV flip server and on the NATO website after the event, and on request by broadcasters through EBU.
Accreditation
Journalists wishing to cover these opportunities should inform the NATO IMS Public Affairs Office no later than 15 Jan 2013 of their interest to do so. Journalists will be able to access NATO HQ on presentation of a NATO accreditation pass or a valid press pass. Those without NATO accreditation must contact the NATO IMS Public Affairs Office as soon as possible and no later than 15 Jan 2013 in order to attend the event.
Enquiries
Point of contact for the Military Committee meetings:
Lt. Col. Clarence Counts, Jr
Tel: +32 2 707 5752
Mob: +32 475 757523
General press arrangements:
Mrs. Karen Dehaes
Tel: +32 2 707 5423
TV-Radio:
Mr. Jean-Marc Lorgnier
Tel: +32 2 707 5006