Press Release 113 4 Aug.

Statement by the Secretary General of NATO, Dr. Javier Solana on the appointment of George Robertson to become the next Secretary General of NATO I warmly welcome the decision of the Allies to appoint George Robertson, the Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom, to become the next Secretary General of NATO. I have worked closely with him over the last two years and have valued his support and advice on all the key issues facing the Alliance. During the Kosovo crisis he showed firm and principled leadership. I believe he has all the qualities to become an outstanding Secretary General of this Alliance. I look forward to working with him closely in my new capacity as High Representative of the European Union for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and to our joint efforts to build a stronger European role and responsibility in NATO.

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