Deputy Secretary General attends NATO conference in Budapest

Szöveg: honvedelem.hu / nato.int | 2013. november 27. 9:02

NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow discussed improving Allied capabilities and strengthening partnerships at the Hungarian National Assembly’s 17th annual NATO conference, held in Budapest on Thursday (21 November 2013).

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_105095.htm?selectedLocale=en

NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow

“I firmly believe that these two issues will be particularly important to keep NATO fit for the future and therefore deserve to be high on our (2014) Summit agenda," the Deputy Secretary General said.

Next year’s NATO Summit in the United Kingdom is to ensure that the Alliance remains ready to meet security challenges amid a rapidly evolving security landscape, Ambassador Vershbow said. He urged European Allies to hold the line on defence spending and gradually increase it again as economies recover and to work together to deliver concrete capabilities. “What we ultimately need is a new culture of multinational cooperation across the Alliance," said the Deputy Secretary General, adding that he was encouraged by Hungary’s efforts, as this year’s chairman, to expand the Visegrad Group’s defence cooperation. On partnerships, the Ambassador said the Alliance should continue to engage with partner countries which have worked closely with NATO in operations and reach out to countries in Africa and the Middle East undergoing transition.

During his two-day visit to Budapest, Ambassador Vershbow also met with senior Hungarian officials, including László Kövér, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, János Martonyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Csaba Hende, Minister of Defence.