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Afghanistan, Kosovo on Agenda for Defense Minister Jung in Washington
German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung met with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and with National Security Advisory Stephen Hadley in Washington on June 26 to discuss the joint efforts at stabilization in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as the planned missile defense system. In addition, Defense Minister Jung outlined the progress made during the German EU Presidency in the European Security and Defence Policy. Defense Minister Jung underscored that the good German-American relationship was clearly evident in his discussions here and he is looking to continue to expand on the outstanding foundation of trust between Germany and the United States. In Afghanistan, where Germany is contributing the third-largest number of military personnel to the International Security Assistance Force, it is important to better coordinate military operations necessary for security with civil measures necessary in reconstruction for a comprehensive approach, Defense Minister Jung said. He added that recent attacks that have killed military personnel as well as Afghan civilians show that both NATO’s ISAF and the US Operation Enduring Freedom are still necessary. “We must not let ourselves be sidetracked from this important task of stabilization and political development by reprehensible attacks,” Jung said. “Ultimately, our goal must be to bring about a self-sustaining security in Afghanistan.”
In regard to Kosovo, where Germany is currently contributing the largest number of military personnel with 2,200, Defense Minister Jung emphasized the need for a new UN Security Council resolution to provide a comprehensive and clear legal basis for the international civil and military presence in Kosovo. It is especially important that Europe and the United States remain unified on this issue, Jung said. On the planned missile defense system, Defense Minister Jung stressed how much he values the fact that the United States is engaging NATO in dialogue and has taken up for review the suggestions of Russian President Putin.June 26, 2007 Links
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