KABUL - Foreign ministers from NATO member countries are likely to give final shape to the alliance’s post-2014 mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces when they meet in Brussels on Tuesday evening and Wednesday.
The NATO summit follows meetings of the EU foreign and general affairs councils in Luxembourg on Monday and Tuesday.
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu told Pajhwok Afghan News the foreign ministerial meeting would start tomorrow evening with a working dinner, but there would be no media opportunity.
“So basically, we will be kicking off very early on Wednesday morning with the doorstep of the Secretary General at 8:00am at the main entrance here.”
Then, she said, the working session of the North Atlantic Council would start immediately afterwards. “We will have a meeting with the new Ukrainian foreign minister in the NATO-Ukraine Commission at 11:30 and that will be followed by the press conference of the secretary general at around 12:40pm.”
Lungescu said the foreign ministers would be meeting with their ISAF partners and the Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister as well as the UN’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, and the EU High Representative. Japan has also been invited, she said. The final press conference by Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is planned for around 17:40.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Shakeb Mustaghni told Pajhwok Afghan News that deputy foreign minister Irshad Ahmadi will attend the NATO meeting in the Belgium capital.
Some NATO officials say the meeting in Brussels would give a final shape to the alliance new mission and operations in Afghanistan beyond this year.
It has been decided that about 12,000 foreign troops would take part in the NATO’s post-2014 mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces.
The US has announced it would contribute 8900 troops and other allies have also promised contributing troops to the mission.
NATO countries defence ministers, who met in Brussels about three weeks ago, had pledged continued assistance with Afghan forces. (Pajhwok)