02 May 2002
NATO Concluding AWACS Support for U.S. Homeland Security
(Crews from 13 nations flew 360 sorties since Oct. 9, 2001) (300)
NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson has announced the conclusion --
effective May 16 -- of Operation Eagle Assist, which deployed Alliance
radar planes to patrol the skies over the United States following the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
This decision was made on the basis of upgrades to the U.S. air
defense posture, enhanced cooperation between U.S. civil and military
authorities, a recent U.S. evaluation of homeland security
requirements, Robertson said.
Following is the text of his statement:
(begin text)
NATO Press Release
30 April 2002
STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL ON THE CONCLUSION OF OPERATION
EAGLE ASSIST
On the basis of material upgrades to the US air defence posture and
enhanced cooperation between civil and military authorities, and
following a recent US evaluation of homeland security requirements,
the North Atlantic Council today agreed to terminate Operation Eagle
Assist effective 16 May 2002.
This decision concludes NATO's historic first deployment of assets in
direct support of operations in the continental United States. It also
reflects the North Atlantic Council's great satisfaction with the
significant contribution to counter-terrorism efforts that the Allied
Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft have made.
Operation Eagle Assist began on 9 October 2001 following the North
Atlantic Council's 4 October decision to take measures to
operationalise Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. To date, 830 crew
members from 13 NATO nations have patrolled US skies in the NATO AWACS
for nearly 4300 hours in over 360 operational sorties. This operation
has been a concrete demonstration of Allied solidarity.
The Council expresses its profound gratitude to the crews and support
personnel, commending them for their outstanding professionalism and
commitment to duty.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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