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12 August 2003

NATO Command of Peace Force in Afghanistan Gives Continuity

Reeker State Department statement August 11

NATO leadership of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul will provide continuity and security for international efforts to help Afghanistan's government and people "reconstruct their country and rebuild its political institutions," said State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker.

NATO's new role brings continuity and "removes the uncertainty of finding a new country to lead the mission every six months," Reeker pointed out in a statement issued August 11, the day the Alliance permanently took over the command of the ISAF from Germany and The Netherlands. It also demonstrates that the revitalization of NATO "is becoming a reality," he added.

Following is Reeker's statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of Spokesman
August 11, 2003

Statement by Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman

NATO ASSUMES LEADERSHIP OF THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE IN AFGHANISTAN [ISAF]

Today, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization takes the historic step of assuming the leadership of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul. This new mission for NATO represents NATO's further transformation as an Alliance that will meet the new security challenges of this century. NATO's leadership of the International Security Force will also help provide the secure environment for the accelerated efforts of the United States and the international community to help the Afghan government and people to reconstruct their country and rebuild its political institutions.

NATO's leadership will bring new continuity to the International Security Assistance Force. The Alliance has appreciated the contribution of individual Allies in accepting temporary leadership of the Force until now, but NATO's new role removes the uncertainty of finding a new country to lead the mission every six months. The International Security Assistance Force remains a multinational force, with 95 percent of its troops coming from NATO Allies or Partner countries. NATO will run its operations in Afghanistan much as it has managed other successful peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia. The Allies will exercise political control in the North Atlantic Council, while NATO's military headquarters will provide military expertise for planning and operations. NATO's new role in Afghanistan demonstrates that the revitalization of the Alliance is becoming a reality, and that NATO will go outside its traditional area of operations to meet threats wherever they may arise.

NATO's leadership of the International Security Assistance Force also provides a clear demonstration of the international community's commitment to security and stability in Afghanistan. The progress already made in Afghanistan would have been impossible without the strong leadership of the United States and the contributions of our coalition partners. Along with Operation Enduring Freedom and effective donor assistance, the International Security Assistance Force will continue to contribute to accelerated progress towards full implementation of the Bonn Accord and a prosperous, peaceful future for Afghanistan and its neighbors.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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