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Mesdames et Messieurs les ministres, Mesdames, Messieurs. Je voudrais tout particulièrement souhaiter la bienvenue aux ministres qui participent pour la première fois à une réunion de l'OTAN. Permettez-moi aussi de remercier nos hôtes d’avoir si remarquablement préparé cette réunion.

Les ministres de l’OTAN ont déjà discuté des opérations en cours, notamment en Afghanistan et au Kosovo, ainsi que de l’action complémentaire à mener par l’OTAN contre la piraterie.  Demain, ils évoqueront les questions clés de notre programme de transformation de la défense, dans la perspective du sommet de Strasbourg-Kehl.  Ils rencontreront également leurs homologues ukrainien et géorgien.

Mais la présente réunion, avec nos partenaires au sein de la FIAS, est tout aussi importante.  Permettez-moi de souhaiter la bienvenue à ces partenaires, ainsi qu’au ministre de la défense afghan, M. Wardak, et au représentant spécial du secrétaire général de l’ONU, M. Eide.

Je souhaite, pour commencer, rendre hommage aux hommes et aux femmes de nos forces armées qui, au péril de leur vie, assurent chaque jour la sécurité du peuple afghan et, par là même, notre sécurité. 

Nous présentons nos condoléances aux familles et aux proches de ceux qui ont perdu la vie au cours de cette opération.

Leurs efforts ont permis d’accomplir des progrès tangibles en Afghanistan : des élections démocratiques, l’affranchissement des femmes, désormais libres de prendre part à la vie publique, des améliorations nettes dans les secteurs des soins de santé et de l’éducation, et bien d’autres choses encore. 

But we are frankly not where we had hoped to be by now.  The South and East of Afghanistan are riven by insurgency, while drugs and the lack of effective government contribute to frustration felt by Afghans at the lack of progress in building their country up.

This effort must succeed.  If we allow extremism and terrorism a safe haven in that region, we guarantee ourselves and our children a much more dangerous world.  That is a fact we cannot ignore.  Which means we must do better – and we can. 

The Afghan Government must make a greater effort to root out corruption and increase efficiency.  We, the ISAF nations, must provide more forces, more trainers, and election support, in a more joined up approach. 

We need a regional approach, because Afghanistan is not an island. We need a greater civilian effort, married up more effectively with our military operations, if we are not to waste precious time and resources. And we need a stronger communications effort, to show the good we are doing, and the heinous crimes the extremists are committing. 

Our priorities for 2009 are clear.  Our goal, as always, is to enhance Afghan leadership and responsibility, and we will examine not only our continued support to an expanded Afghan National Army, but also ways that we might enhance our support to the Afghan National Police.  We are committed to supporting the election process later this year, and we will discuss temporary force deployments in our meeting today.

Let me now give the floor to our host.  Defence Minister Klich, the floor is yours.