06 July 2003
Text: NATO Begins Troop Deployments to Kabul
(Will take over peacekeeping role from current Dutch-German force)
(350)
The first NATO troops that will take over the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Kabul have started leaving Germany
for Afghanistan, NATO officials announced on July 4.
NATO will take over full responsibility for ISAF operations from the
current force of German and Dutch soldiers on August 11.
Following is the text of the July 4 announcement from NATO's Supreme
Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE):
(begin text)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Press Release
July 4, 2003
NATO Starts Deploying First Troops to Kabul
The first troops of the NATO force that will take on the International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Kabul next month leave
from Germany tomorrow. NATO will take command of the ISAF mission on
August 11, but the first advance party from the Joint Command Centre
in Heidelberg, Germany will set off on July 5 to prepare the handover
from the current Dutch/German force that is running ISAF.
The NATO mission was authorised by NATO's decision-making body, the
North Atlantic Council, in April. Lieutenant General Götz Gliemeroth
(German Army), Commander JCC and the appointed Commander of ISAF, will
lead a multi-national force composed of about twenty NATO- and Partner
nations. Force contributing nations will deploy their troops in due
course to ensure a smooth hand-over of the ISAF operation to NATO. The
change of command is planned for 11 August 2003 in Kabul.
The ISAF mission remains firmly anchored in the UN Security Council
Resolutions and the Bonn Agreement that set the course for
Afghanistan, and the mandate for the NATO force will remain the same.
NATO's increased involvement demonstrates its continuing long-term
commitment to stability and security in Afghanistan through assistance
to the Afghanistan Transitional Authority (ATA). This support,
consisting of strategic command, control, and coordination of ISAF
will provide continuity in the operation.
NATO's Regional Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces North Europe, General
Sir Jack Deverell, will have operational command for ISAF from his
Headquarters in Brunssum, The Netherlands.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
