KABUL - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged more spending for security from the EU nations and denied the Alliance's involvement in CIA's secret prisons in Europe. Rasmussen has spoken on 23 April to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and answered questions on the 2011 operations in Libya, situation in Syria and the potential EU role in Afghanistan after the 2014 military withdrawal.

Rasmussen pointed out that "European allies are lacking a number of military assets", emphasizing shortages in intelligence, surveillance and airborne refueling capabilities. "EU nations must continue to invest in security smartly and also build the capability to use their investments", he added.

NATO Secretary General called the mission in Libya "a great success", underlining that "EU nations demonstrated they are willing and capable to lead NATO operations". Nevertheless, he stressed that NATO has "no intention whatsoever to intervene in Syria", reiterating that NATO has no UN mandate to act and that it will not do so without one. Rasmussen added that NATO regards "a regional solution is a right way to move forward." (Agencies)