26 June 2006

NGOs operating in Afghanistan visit NATO Representatives of Afghan and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in southern Afghanistan visited NATO Headquarters and the Joint Force Command in Brunssum, on 26 and 27 June. The group held briefings on Afghanistan-related issues with diplomats from Allied countries and NATO staff, including NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Participants emphasised that security and reconstruction represent two sides of the same coin. Balancing the demands of both requires not only distinctive expertise, but also a willingness to cooperate with a variety of military and civilian counterparts with the aim of building governing capacity and fostering Afghan ownership. Overall, the visit provided a unique opportunity for NATO and representatives of NGOs to exchange views regarding the prospects and challenges for cooperation in support of the state-building process. The NGO representatives thanked NATO for the Alliance ’s long-term commitment to Afghanistan .