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NATO Names U.S. Marine General as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

(NATO, Pentagon issue press releases on appointment) (440)
NATO announced July 18 that it has appointed, at President Bush's
request, General James L. Jones of the United States Marine Corps as
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR).
Jones will succeed U.S. Air Force General Joseph W. Ralston, who
received NATO's "lasting gratitude" for his distinguished service.
Following are the NATO and Pentagon press releases on the appointment:
(begin text)
NATO Press Release (2002) 096
http://www.nato.int
18 July 2002
APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL JAMES L. JONES, U.S. MARINE CORPS, TO SUCCEED
GENERAL JOSEPH W. RALSTON AS SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER, EUROPE
NATO today appointed General James L. Jones, United States Marine
Corps, to succeed General Joseph W. Ralston, as Supreme Allied
Commander, Europe.
In a letter from the President of the United States of America to the
Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, who is
Chairman of the Defence Planning Committee, the President asked the
member governments to agree to release General Ralston from his
assignment as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, at a date to be
determined. The Committee agreed with great regret to do so and
expressed to General Ralston, in the name of NATO governments, lasting
gratitude for his distinguished service.
Having been asked to nominate a successor, the President proposed
General Jones. In response to his nomination, the Defence Planning
Committee today agreed to the appointment of General Jones to succeed
General Ralston as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.
(end NATO text)
(begin Pentagon text)
United States Department of Defense
News Release No. 373-02
July 19, 2002
NATO APPOINTS GENERAL JONES TO BE SACEUR
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization today appointed Gen. James L.
Jones, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, to succeed Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, U.S.
Air Force, as supreme allied commander, Europe.
In response to a letter from the president, the secretary general of
the NATO, who is chairman of the Defense Planning Committee, asked the
member governments to agree to release Ralston and to approve the
nomination of Jones.
The Committee agreed with great regret to release Ralston from his
assignment as supreme allied commander, Europe. They expressed to
Ralston, in the name of NATO governments, lasting gratitude for his
distinguished service.
The Committee asked the president to nominate a U.S. officer for
appointment as supreme allied commander, Europe. In response to this
request, the president nominated Jones to succeed Ralston with the
same powers and functions.
The president has also nominated Jones for assignment as commander,
U.S. European Command. Jones' nomination is subject to confirmation by
the U.S. Senate.
(end Pentagon text)
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)