29-31 Mar. 2005

Secretary General discusses security cooperation in New Zealand News 24/03/2005 - NATO NATO Secretary General to travel to New Zealand Opinion 31/03/2005 - NATO Speech by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at Victoria University Institute of Policy Studies and New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Wellington, New Zealand NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer travelled to New Zealand from 29 to 31 March, to discuss areas in which the country is working with NATO to enhance international security. This was the first time that a Secretary General of NATO paid a visit to the country. While not a formal partner country of NATO, New Zealand contributes to NATO’s mission in Afghanistan and has contributed to the Alliance’s operations in the Balkans. New Zealand is also leading one of the international community’s Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Afghanistan, in Bamyan. The Alliance commands five PRTs in the North of the country, and will command another four, in the West. During the visit, the Secretary General met with Prime Minister Helen Clark, acting Foreign Minister Marian Hobbs and Defence Minister Mark Burton. They discussed areas in which New Zealand is working with the Alliance to enhance international security, particularly the Balkans and Afghanistan. “We may be literally at opposite ends of the globe, but New Zealand and NATO have come a lot closer together these last few years,” said Mr. De Hoop Scheffer in an address at the Victoria University Institute of Policy Studies and New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The Secretary General’s visit follows a visit by New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff to NATO Headquarters in February this year, the first visit by a high-ranking official from the country to NATO.