Statement
by the Secretary General of NATO, Lord Robertson
on the appointment of Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
to become the next Secretary General of NATO
NATO Press Release (2003)105
22 Sept. 2003
I warmly welcome the decision of the Allies to appoint Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the next Secretary General of NATO.
Jaap has a distinguished record as both a diplomat and politician that make him superbly qualified to be Secretary General. As a diplomat, among many other important posts, he served in NATO headquarters, and so already knows us well. Now as Foreign Minister he has impressed all his colleagues with his judgement and grasp of the issues. As this year's Chairman in Office of the OSCE, he has carved a reputation for professionalism and straight talking. Over the years NATO has been well-served by many Secretaries General, and I am certain that Jaap will continue that fine tradition. These are challenging times for NATO, which is busier than ever, and has also embarked on a radical transformation to adapt to the new security environment, and I am delighted that we have found the right man to ensure NATO remains the world's most successful defence alliance.
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