NATO solidifies cooperation with Afghanistan

News 06/09/2006 - NATO NATO Council visits Afghanistan Background NATO in Afghanistan Official texts Declaration by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

On 6 September 2006, in the presence of the North Atlantic Council, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan signed the “Declaration by NATO and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan”, setting out a Framework for Enduring Co-operation in Partnership.

The Declaration launches a substantial programme of long-term co-operation between NATO and Afghanistan.  It builds on NATO’s unique relationship with the country and reflects the Alliance’s support for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

The programme will concentrate on defence reform, defence institution building and the military aspects of security sector reform, as well as on other areas such as promoting interoperability between the forces of the Afghan National Army and those of NATO members.

At the signing ceremony in Kabul with President Karzai, the NATO Secretary General said “This agreement of co-operation solidifies NATO’s enduring commitment and demonstrates that our course for creating a secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan is your course …”.