27 Mar 2007
At a special meeting at NATO HQ, 27 March, NATO countries expressed optimism about the situation in Afghanistan and full support for the proposals for Kosovo’s future made by UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari.
The high-level meeting of the North Atlantic Council, NATO's principal decision-making body, brought together senior representatives from the 26 capitals.
Following the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer briefed the media on the discussions.
On Afghanistan, the Secretary General said he sensed strong “satisfaction and optimism” around the table due to a greater number of NATO forces on the ground, increasing funding for reconstruction and greater coordination among international organizations and with civil actors.
“Momentum is the right away to qualify the meeting,” said the Secretary General, “Challenges ahead, but a clear sense that we have traction and momentum”.
Issues that still need to be addressed included counter-narcotics and stepping up political dialogue with Pakistan; the Secretary General said he is planning to visit the country, following an invitation by the Prime Minister.
On Kosovo, Mr. De Hoop Scheffer stressed that all NATO countries expressed their “full support” for the proposals for Kosovo’s future made by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari to the UN Security Council on 26 March.
The Secretary General stressed that this was an issue that was fundamental to European security.
Mr. De Hoop Scheffer said that both Afghanistan and Kosovo will be key themes at the upcoming meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Oslo, 26-27 April.
