9 Feb 2005

Foreign Ministers underscore transatlantic unity Events 09/02/2005 - NATO HQ Photos, speeches and audio from the working lunch of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Foreign Ministers Background NATO's assistance to Iraq NATO in Afghanistan An informal luncheon of Alliance Foreign Ministers at NATO HQ on 9 February saw broad agreement on the way ahead for NATO in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East and the Balkans. The meeting was the first with the new US Secretary of State, Ms. Condoleezza Rice. It provided Ministers with an opportunity to discuss freely the way ahead for NATO in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East and the Balkans. Turning a corner "On Iraq, Ministers agreed that we have turned the corner," said the NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in a press conference after the meeting, "After the landmark elections (…) the entire Euro-Atlantic community is very much looking forward to support the political process in Iraq." The Secretary General said that his goal is to have all 26 NATO Allies contributing to NATO's training assistance to Iraq as soon as possible, at the latest by the time of the upcoming Summit, 22 February. Mr. De Hoop Scheffer said that, once fully implemented, NATO's mission in Iraq will be helping to train 1,000 officers a year. The meeting also saw agreement on the need to further expand NATO's presence in Afghanistan, to the West of the country. Ministers also discussed the possible role that NATO could play in supporting the peace process in the Middle East, its continuing engagement in Kosovo and partnerships with Russia and Ukraine. The luncheon was held to allow the newly appointed US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, to meet her counterparts from NATO countries. It was also an opportunity for Ministers to prepare the upcoming Summit meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government. It is scheduled to take place at the Alliance's Headquarters in Brussels on 22 February.