Athens News Agency, Greece
June 13 2008
Meimarakis at NATO conf’
The spring conference of NATO defence ministers began in Brussels
on Thursday with the participation of National Defence Minister
Evangelos Meimarakis.
Issues discussed on the first day were the course of NATO
operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan. On the question of NATO’s
presence in Kosovo (KFOR) and the security situation in the wider
Balkan region, the Greek defence minister once again stressed in his
address Greece’s position, according to which NATO’s involvement in it
must be maintained at the present high level of operational readiness.
As regards the presence of KFOR in the region, Meimarakis pointed
out that it guarantees security and stability in the region, the
population’s freedom of movement and the protection of historic and
religious monuments.
Also focusing on the course of NATO’s operations in Afghanistan,
the defence minister stressed during the Council of member-states and
non-member-states of the Atlantic Alliance which contribute to the
ISAF force, the need for the continuation of coordinated efforts to
enable the authorities in Afghanistan to be helped in consolidating a
stable, safe and democratic country, which will be rid of
destabilisation threats.
Meimarakis met on the sidelines of the conference with Armenia’s
new Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan, at the request of the Armenian
side, with whom he discussed issues of bilateral interest.