Cablegate: Nato Syg Statement On President Obama's

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OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHNO #0560 3360818
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 020818Z DEC 09
FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 1309
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3678
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 0515
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1045
RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR PRIORITY 0045
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0137
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1112
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USNMR SHAPE BE PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USDELMC BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY

UNCLAS USNATO 000560

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS PREL NATO MARR MASS PGOV AF
SUBJECT: NATO SYG STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
ANNOUNCEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN

On December 02, NATO Secretary General Rasmussen released the
following statement on President Obama's announcement of the
new U.S. approach to Afghanistan:

BEGIN TEXT

02 Dec. 2009

Press Release: (2009) 192

Statement by the Secretary General on President Obama's
Announcement

On behalf of NATO, I warmly welcome President Obama's
announcement on the new US approach and commitment to the
mission in Afghanistan. President Obama's decision to
substantially increase the numbers of US forces in the
NATO-led operation is proof of his resolve; the overall
approach he laid out is a broader political strategy for
success. The United States' contribution to the NATO-led
mission has always been substantial; it is now even more
important.

But this is not a US mission alone: America's Allies in NATO
have shared the risks, costs, and burdens of this mission
from the beginning. As the US increases its commitment, I am
confident that the other Allies, as well as our Partners in
the mission, will also make a substantial increase in their
contribution. Taken together, the new force contributions
from across the Alliance, as well as the new approach agreed
by all the ISAF countries, will help create a new momentum in
the mission in 2010.

END TEXT
DAALDER

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