US Secretary of Defense visits NATO HQ
During a visit to NATO HQ on 15 January, the new US Secretary of Defense, Mr. Robert Gates, said success in Afghanistan was a top priority.
From the event
- High resolution photos
- Point de presse by the NATO Secretary General and United States Secretary
of Defense, Mr. Robert Gates
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- Video (WMV
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- Transcript
- audio (MP3
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News
- 12 Jan. 2007 - NATO
US Secretary of Defense to visit NATO
15 Jan 2007
Mr. Gates met with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to discuss the key issues on the Alliance’s agenda ahead of a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Seville in February.
This included NATO’s mission in Afghanistan, the situation in Kosovo and Iraq, and NATO’s continuing transformation.
Civil and military efforts in Afghanistan
“It is a great pleasure indeed that so soon after his appointment [Secretary Gates] found the time to come to NATO, underlining the importance of the Alliance,” said the Secretary General.
“The mission in Afghanistan is a model of the organization’s potential in this new era,” said Mr. Gates, “Success in Afghanistan is our top priority.”
Responding to questions from journalists, the Secretary of Defense stressed that this would require both a military and civil effort, particularly in the area of reconstruction.
This was Mr. Gates' first visit to NATO HQ since he was sworn in as Secretary of Defense in December 2006.
