NEWS RELEASE 
21 NOV 2008
NATO Military Committee 
concludes two days of meetings in 
Brussels - 19-20 Nov. 
2008
NATO HQ, Brussels – Chiefs of 
Defence of more than 60 Countries together with NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander 
for Operations and  NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation 
attended, at various levels, the Autumn NATO Military Committee Meetings chaired 
by the Admiral Di Paola, Chairman of the Military Committee here 
Thursday.
NATO members, Euro Atlantic Partnership Council nations, 
the Mediterranean Dialogue countries and Ukraine had the opportunity to discuss 
a wide range of issues, taking stock of all NATO-led operations and missions to 
include ISAF, KFOR and maritime operations. In this context, particularly 
welcome were the presence throughout the meetings of the Chairman of the 
European Military Committee, Gen. Henri Bentegeat and the intervention during a 
special session of Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan Chief of Army 
Staff.
As usual, detailed discussions were devoted to operations, 
and in particular to the development of the situation in Afghanistan. The 
Military Committee confirmed that military operations alone will not provide a 
long-term answer to creating a secure and peaceful environment in Afghanistan, 
while only a comprehensive approach, involving all  interested parties, 
will enable a successful outcome for the Afghan people.  NATO will continue 
to engage the International Community in a coordinated effort to enable 
economical and social development, and the installation of good governance, to 
include the rule of law and human rights, constantly working 
towards an Afghan ownership.   In this respect, NATO 
forces must continue to concentrate their efforts on civilian-military 
cooperation, and the training of the Afghan National Army through expert 
Military Liaison Teams – both these initiatives providing concrete results and a 
visible sign of the Afghan people building their own future. The Chiefs of 
Defence recognised that 2009 will be a crucial election year, and that nations 
must make a major effort to staff Military Liaison Teams.
NATO’s Secretary General, HE Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, also 
addressed the Chiefs of Defence, and assured them of his “profound 
admiration for the quality of the people the nations have committed to ISAF, and 
what a remarkable job they are doing under difficult 
circumstances.”
“In the context of a regional approach to Afghanistan, 
Pakistan is a key player,” Admiral Di Paola said after a meeting with Gen 
Kayani, the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, confirming that “a stable and 
peaceful Afghanistan is in the vital interest of Pakistan”. Gen Kayani gave 
a frank and informative presentation to the Committee, in which he underlined 
the strong need for increased cooperation between his forces and those of ISAF. 
 He emphasised the importance of understanding the 
geographical-cultural-historical background of the border regions and the 
population living there.  He underlined the need to actively engage the 
Pakistan-Afghan border tribes to enable a better control of cross-border 
movement. Close military-to-military cooperation with Pakistan, specifically 
through the Tripartite Commission meetings between senior Afghanistan, Pakistan 
and NATO/ISAF Commanders, is key to regional security. The Committee and the 
Pakistan Chief of Army Staff both shared a common strategic approach solving the 
Afghanistan-Pakistan cross-border problems.
With regard to Kosovo, the security situation was assessed 
as stable.  The Chiefs of Defence were updated on the progress of the 
setting up of the Kosovo Security Forces, fundamental to the future security of 
Kosovo.  The EULEX Head of Mission, Lieutenant General (R) Yves de 
Kermabon, participating by video-conference from Pristina, and General Bentegeat 
updated the Committee on the progress of the future EULEX mission.  
NATO/KFOR, UNMIK and EULEX staffs are fully cooperating to avoid any security 
gap during this transition period.  
The Chiefs of Defence were also updated on Operation 
Allied Provider, NATO’s current maritime operation to assist ships delivering 
humanitarian aid to Somalia, under the UN World Food Program.  In response 
to the urgency of the UN’s request, NATO worked quickly to deploy four ships 
from its Standing Maritime Forces to escort shipping in danger of pirate attack. 
 This operation, although temporary, is proving very successful in 
protecting the delivery of humanitarian aids. Coordination is continuing with 
the EU, also in the view of the future European mission in the area (Operation 
Atalanta).  It was noted that the threat to international maritime security 
is of global concern, and needs a broader approach.
The Mediterranean Dialogue countries confirmed the value 
of meetings at such a high level as the Chiefs of Defence as being a useful 
forum for discussions at a strategic level on issues of common interest.  
Military-to-military cooperation is an important tool for strengthening security 
and stability, also in relation to the maritime security challenges in the 
Mediterranean region.   
Chiefs of Defence also reviewed the so-called Lines of 
Effort that focus on current military issues and are important for NATO’s 
military transformation, covering, amongst others, a common NATO approach to 
defence planning.  Much emphasis was also placed on capitalising on 
operational lessons learned, and including this knowledge into basic, 
preparatory training before employing personnel in mission. In the Euro Atlantic 
Partnership session, Austria gave a comprehensive presentation of lessons 
learned from participation in KFOR, from a national point of view.  In 
relation to this, the importance of the role of the Joint Allied Lessons Learned 
Centre (JALLC) in Lisbon,  and the recently agreed NATO policy on lessons 
learned were also discussed, with a view to further sharing experiences with 
Partners.  The Serbian Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Zdravko Ponos, 
briefed the Committee on the cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and 
NATO/KFOR.  Admiral Di Paola said that this close cooperation was very 
valuable to the Alliance in enhancing regional stability. 
Referring to a continued increase in NATO-Ukraine military 
cooperation, Admiral di Paola congratulated the Ukraine Chief of Defence, 
General Serhiy Kyrychenko saying, “There is no other NATO Partner giving 
such a strong contribution across all the NATO missions and operations as 
Ukraine.”  Admiral di Paola also underlined the value of Ukraine’s 
participation in NATO’s Response Force.  General Serhiy Kyrychenko thanked 
the Military Committee for their appreciation of Ukraine’s efforts to transform 
their forces, enabling them to participate so fully in NATO-led 
operations.
The Committee also discussed preparations for 2009, NATO’s 
60th anniversary year.  NATO’s Secretary General updated the Chiefs of 
Defence on the main issues that will dominate the anniversary year, pointing out 
the importance of the work of the Committee in providing essential military 
advice to the North Atlantic Council, and NATO Heads of State at the 2009 
Summit.