Rasmussen for timely signature on BSA

BRUSSELS (PAN‘s endorsement of the Bilateral Security Agreement , saying he was looking forward to “its timely signature.”

Rasmussen was speaking to the media in brief conversation on Tuesday at the start of a two-day NATO foreign ministerial that began here in the Belgium capital.

The secretary general said NATO would be working closely with the Afghan government in the weeks ahead to put in place the necessary legal framework to the deployment of the NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces after 2014.

“But it is clear that if there is no signature on the legal agreement, there can be no deployment and the planned assistance will be put at risk,” he said. “It is my firm hope and intention therefore to continue our efforts to support Afghanistan, once these agreements are concluded.”

Ministers started their ministerial with a discussion on preparations for next year’s NATO Summit in the United Kingdom, including how to ensure that the Alliance remains fit, outward looking and ready to respond to future security challenges.

Tuesday’s meetings will also include discussions on ways to strengthen partnerships. A session of the NATO-Russia Council with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be held on Wednesday, followed by a meeting of foreign ministers from NATO and partner countries which contribute to the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission.

A meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission with Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, will wrap up the two-day.

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