14 June 2006

NATO Secretary General visits Canada News NATO Secretary General to visit Canada Opinion Speech by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Canada (CP/Tom Hanson) NATO’s expanding role in Afghanistan and the agenda of the upcoming Alliance Summit in Riga were among the issues discussed during a visit by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to Ottawa, 14-15 June. The Secretary General met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Foreign Minister Peter Gordon MacKay, Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor, and members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Discussions focused on the ongoing expansion of NATO’s mission in Afghanistan, preparations for the November Summit meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government in Riga, Latvia, as well as Canada’s defence modernisation programme. Spoilers will not get their way (Department of National Defence Canada - Jacek Szymanski) During the visit, the Secretary General issued a strong warning to “spoilers” trying to derail the stabilization process in Afghanistan. "I can tell you, they'll not achieve their goals, because on the basis of the operational plan on which Canadian and other forces are going in, on the basis of the robust rules of engagement, they'll feel the consequences if they try to spoil the process," he told reporters. "The message to the spoilers, be it Taliban, be it drug lords, be it warlords, whatever, will be a very stern and strong message: You will not get it your way. You will be dealt with very robustly if necessary." Canada is one of several countries that are contributing forces to the expansion of the NATO-led peacekeeping force into the south of Afghanistan. (Department of National Defence Canada - Jacek Szymanski) The Secretary General complemented Canada on its defence modernization, including the increase in defence spending and the process to acquire strategic airlift, which will help to meet a significant NATO shortfall in this area. Mr. De Hoop Scheffer and Prime Minister Harper also addressed a range of political and military issues related to NATO’s transformation.