WASHINGTONM - US president Barack Obama met NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen at his Oval Office and discussed with him the current situation in Afghanistan, the White House said on Monday.
The President and the Secretary General discussed the important progress made by the NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan, and how the Chicago Summit might shape the next major phase of transition in Afghanistan, consistent with the Lisbon Summit goals and the Presidents June 22 speech on Afghanistan, the White House said in a statement after the meeting.

Obama thanked the Secretary General for his strong and effective leadership during NATOÆs seven month operation in Libya, Operation Unified Protector; the White House said adding that the two leaders agreed that by acting quickly and decisively NATO saved the lives of thousands of Libyan civilians.

Obama and Rasmussen also discussed goals for the May 20-21 NATO Summit, which US the President will host in Chicago, including taking further steps to ensure that NATO has the defense capabilities it needs to meet 21st century security threats.

They agreed that the Chicago Summit should seek to further broaden and deepen NATOÆs relationships with non-NATO partner nations, the White House said.