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Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning. Let me again extend a particular welcome to those Ministers who are attending their first NATO meeting.

When people think about NATO, the image that leaps to mind is most likely a soldiers, or sailors, or marines. They probably don’t think about accountants.  But today, NATO’s military operations are costing more than ever, especially ISAF -- in a time when defence budgets are squeezed in all our countries.

I’m very pleased that, in our discussions last night, Ministers have agreed a package of measures to ensure that our soldiers get the support they need in the field; and that we can make the other strategic investments we still need. Solidarity in NATO means on the front line: but it also includes the bottom line.  We have seen that solidarity here in Istanbul.

This morning, we will discuss Kosovo. We have seen considerable progress on the ground in the last twelve months. KFOR has already downsized to 10,000 troops, and moved to a lighter, more flexible structure. We will discuss the next steps in KFOR’s continued move to a deterrence presence, gradually, under the political direction of the North Atlantic Council. And there should be no doubt that KFOR will remain fully capable to do its part to maintain a safe and secure environment.
Before we continue, let me first give the floor to our host, Defence Minister Gonül. Minister, the floor is yours.