By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2012 – Heads of
state and government, their foreign and defense ministers and others who
gathered in Chicago have accomplished what they set out to do, NATO Secretary
General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said today.
In the alliance’s largest summit meeting
ever, representatives of NATO member nations, partner nations and International
Security Assistance Force troop-contributing countries met three goals, he said
at a news conference.
“We have focused on the future of
Afghanistan; we have decided to invest smartly in our defense, even in times of
austerity; and we have engaged with our partners around the world to address
the challenges we all face in the 21st century,” Rasmussen said.
NATO has set a course to complete the
current mission in Afghanistan, and made clear the alliance’s commitment to
supporting safety and security in that country, he said. The Afghan government
and other nations will partner with NATO in funding and otherwise supporting
the army and police forces that will assume full lead responsibility for their
nation’s security between now and the end of 2014, he said.
“Here in Chicago,” the secretary general
said, “we agreed to implement a renewed culture of cooperation, so that nations
can achieve together what they cannot achieve alone.”
NATO members have furthered their “smart
defense” approach to collectively buying NATO military systems “that will
provide the capabilities that we need, at a price we can afford,” he said.
The summit drew representatives of NATO
partner nations from the four corners of the world, the secretary general
noted. The reach of NATO’s relationships demonstrates the alliance’s
determination to deepen and strengthen its partnership network “in the interest
of our shared security,” he added.
“This has been a highly successful
summit,” Rasmussen said. “Together, we have faced the challenges that needed
facing, with shared responsibility and shared leadership.”
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