28 Sep 2006

Model NATO “commits” to Afghanistan Opinions 28/09/06 - NATO Address by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to the Model Nato Participants Multimedia High resolution photos of the Model NATO Video of the Model NATO event in Portorož, Slovenia (wmv/3082KB) Courtesy of www.savaryfilm.de Key links www.europeanforum.de www.iapss.org Students at a Model NATO simulation seminar focused their discussion on NATO's mission in Afghanistan and reached consensus on committing additional troops to support the operation. They also stressed the importance of civilian reconstruction and development to bring about lasting security and stability in the country. Some 50 students from the 26 NATO countries are taking part in the five-day simulation, which coincides with the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Portorož, Slovenia. Ministers briefed on results In addition to Afghanistan, participants discussed and reaffirmed their commitment to having the NATO Response Force fully operational as soon as possible and agreed to create a common fund to pay for costs related to the deployment of Response Force missions. Finally, they pledged NATO's continued support for the AU mission in Darfur. The NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and the Slovenian Minister of Defence, Karl Erjavec, met with the participants and the Secretary General briefed NATO Defence Ministers on the results. The students will continue their deliberations on September 29, with a workshop on the future of NATO that will be addressed by senior NATO officials. The event is organized by the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, the Munich European Forum, and International Association of Political Science Students.