6 Feb. 2004

Defence Ministers discuss operations, capabilities at Munich meeting News Speeches, audio and photos from the meeting NATO Defence Ministers met in Munich on 6 February for informal talks on the Alliance’s operations and transformation, including the expansion of NATO’s mission in Afghanistan. Informal meetings traditionally have no fixed agenda and no formal decisions are taken; they allow Ministers to discuss freely key issues on the Alliance's agenda. The meeting in Munich provided an opportunity for Ministers to prepare the ground for decisions to be taken in the run-up to the upcoming Summit meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government in Istanbul this June. Ministers discussed in particular the plans for an expansion of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. Positive indications were given with regard to establishing more Provincial Reconstruction Teams in different parts of the country. Commitment to Afghanistan “NATO's first priority is to get Afghanistan right. As I have said since the day I took office, we have no choice but to meet our commitments to the people of Afghanistan, and to the international community,” NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters after the meeting. Another key topic was that of enhancing the Alliance’s operational capabilities and the usability of member countries’ forces. “Our missions should dictate our capabilities and not vice versa,” said Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer, emphasizing the importance of the issue. Ministers also discussed the possible termination of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of this year, as well as the situation in Iraq.