9 Oct . 2007

NATO Secretary General addresses Parliamentary Assembly

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer called parliamentarians to play a key role in explaining to our publics the Alliance’s main engagements, challenges and its ambitious agenda for the next summit in 2008.

In an address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s annual session, Mr. De Hoop Scheffer said that it will be particularly important to manage the public’s expectations about our operations – to explain the dangers involved, the long-term character of many engagements, and the benchmarks for defining success.  

He referred to the crucial role that NATO is playing in assisting Afghanistan to become a stable nation that no longer exports terrorism and stated that there are “clear signs of progress”. Nevertheless, he said, the challenge before us is to reinforce and sustain that progress.

According to NATO Secretary General, in the run-up to the Bucharest summit, “we must show continued political commitment to our Afghanistan mission” and at the same time continue to “encourage greater Afghan ownership”.

De Hoop Scheffer pledged in favour of a comprehensive approach for Afghanistan, Kosovo, Darfur and future contingencies elsewhere.

He also called for a “strong commitment at the highest political level to move forward” the NATO-EU relationship. 

The Secretary General also emphasised the importance of such issues as enlargement, partnerships, energy security, the fight against global terrorism, energy security, cyber and missile defence which he expects to be discussed at the Bucharest summit.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly brings together some 248 parliamentarians from 26 NATO member states, delegates from 16 associate countries, five Mediterranean associate countries, the European Parliament and parliamentary observers from several other countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.