• UK
  • 07:48 26 Nov 2009
 

NATO Summit, Brussels

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary represented the UK at a NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Brussels on 22nd February 2005.

 
President Bush made his first trip overseas since re-election to attend the meeting, underlining strong US commitment to NATO. Transatlantic relations, Iraq and Afghanistan were core topics for discussion at the Summit. There was unanimous agreement on the importance of good relations between the US and Europe and on the need for strong political dialogue within NATO. President Bush described NATO as the "cornerstone" of the transatlantic relationship.
 
At the Summit, all NATO members committed contributions to the NATO training mission in Iraq, aimed at providing Iraqis with the skills they need to take over responsibility for security in Iraq. This was warmly welcomed by the Prime Minister as an important contribution to the wider continuing process of Iraqiisation. With regard to Afghanistan, the Summit welcomed NATO’s decision to expand NATO operations to the west, and pledged to provide additional forces to provide security during this summer’s national assembly elections.
 
Earlier in the day, a special NATO-Ukraine Summit was held at which President Yuschenko outlined his plans and priorities for the reform process in the Ukraine. The UK welcomed President Yuschenko’s attendance at NATO and emphasised the goodwill that exists towards Ukraine. Tony Blair recognised that there were challenges ahead and pledged UK and NATO support to help Ukraine to move forward.



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