- Title: BELGIUM: NATO Chief calls on Afghanistan to secure human rights
- Date: 5th June 2013
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JUNE 5, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATO HEADQUARTERS WITH MEMBERS' FLAGS FLAGS
- Embargoed: 20th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Belgium
- City:
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAA2SOWWCRXYS9GK4XS8BJ3P3LG
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- Story Text: NATO defence ministers, including the new U.S Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, met on Wednesday (June 05) to discuss the details of the alliance's training missions in Afghanistan its main troop withdrawal in 2014.
Earlier in the day; some of them attended a meeting of NATO's Georgia Commission.
In his opening statement at the beginning of the meeting between NATO defence ministers and non-NATO ISAF contributing members, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on Afghanistan to fight corruption and secure human rights, adding NATO was ready to contribute.
"Commitment is a two-way street. Continued Afghan commitment to better governance, combating corruption, securing human rights and fair elections will pave the way for continued international support. This is a broad international effort but at our meeting today, we will make clear that we are ready to play our part," Rasmussen said.
On Tuesday, the head of international forces in Afghanistan, General Joseph Dunford, said he expected the meeting to help further define the nature of the mission they want to perform in Afghanistan after 2014, when most foreign combat troops withdraw.
Afghan forces are now taking the lead in planning and executing military operations against the Taliban, with U.S.-led NATO troops providing support. Afghan forces are due to assume full security responsibility after 2014, and only a small NATO contingent will remain to provide training, advice and assistance.
U.S. officials said during a meeting of NATO defence ministers in February that the alliance was considering keeping a residual force of 8,000 to 12,000 troops. The White House has been discussing keeping 3,000 to 9,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan as part of that, and President Barack Obama has come under increasing pressure to specify the number. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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