18 February 2011 - NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY MEMBERS MEET IN BRUSSELS

Over a span of three days the members will meet with NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the Ambassadors from NATO member countries as well as other senior officials to discuss NATO’s post-Lisbon agenda, plans for transition in Afghanistan and other key Alliance security issues.  The delegates will also visit SHAPE, the Alliance ’s military headquarters, for briefings on NATO operations.  This year’s meetings will feature a special briefing by Lt. Gen William Caldwell, Commander of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan.

In addition, members will receive briefings from European Union officials on trade and economic issues of mutual concern across the Euro-Atlantic area.  Continuing with this theme, the members of the Economics and Security Committee will meet in Paris with officials at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for briefings on the state of the global economy.

Distinguished speakers include:

Dirk Brengelmann, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, responsible for advising the Secretary General on political issues affecting the Alliance ’s activities and cooperation with NATO partner countries.

Martin Howard, Assistant Secretary General for Operations, responsible for support to the Secretary General on the political directions and management of NATO military operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Gabor Iklody, Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, responsible for advising the Secretary General on the development on policy on non-traditional issues such as cyber-defence and defence against weapons of mass destruction.

Patrick Auroy, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment, responsible for advising the Secretary General on the development of commonly-funded defence projects such as Alliance Ground Surveillance and NATO area missile defence

General Manfred Lange, Chief of Staff, SHAPE

Lieutenant General Frank J. Kisner, Commander, NATO Special Operations Headquarters

Karel De Gucht, Commissioner for Trade, European Commission

Carlos Braga, World Bank Special Representative and Director, External Affairs Europe