Tabarnack
11th May 2012, 18:33
Brussels, May 11 (Prensa Latina) The secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Anders Fogh Rasmussen, stated on Friday that he will meet French President-elect Francois Hollande to discuss the early withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan.
At a press conference in the Belgian capital, Fogh Rasmussen revealed that he had discussed the issue with the French leader during a phone call he made to congratulate him for his achievement.
Rasmussen noted that both agreed to continue holding talks next week, after Hollande is sworn in on Tuesday.
During Hollande´s election campaign, he assured that the French troops would return from the occupied central Asian nation this year.
The withdrawal has been rejected by Germany and the United States, which insist that all members of the occupying force in Afghanistan must remain in their positions until 2014, as agreed in the previous NATO summit in Lisbon.
According Rasmussen, this will be one of the main issues on the agenda of the upcoming NATO summit, scheduled for May 20 and 21 in the U.S. city of Chicago.
On the other hand, Afghan President Hamid Karza informed that, during a phone conference with Hollande, he expressed his respect with regards to any decision made on this matter.
France currently has 3,400 soldiers in Afghanistan, a country attacked and occupied by U.S. and NATO troops for over a decade.
http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=505809&Itemid=1
At a press conference in the Belgian capital, Fogh Rasmussen revealed that he had discussed the issue with the French leader during a phone call he made to congratulate him for his achievement.
Rasmussen noted that both agreed to continue holding talks next week, after Hollande is sworn in on Tuesday.
During Hollande´s election campaign, he assured that the French troops would return from the occupied central Asian nation this year.
The withdrawal has been rejected by Germany and the United States, which insist that all members of the occupying force in Afghanistan must remain in their positions until 2014, as agreed in the previous NATO summit in Lisbon.
According Rasmussen, this will be one of the main issues on the agenda of the upcoming NATO summit, scheduled for May 20 and 21 in the U.S. city of Chicago.
On the other hand, Afghan President Hamid Karza informed that, during a phone conference with Hollande, he expressed his respect with regards to any decision made on this matter.
France currently has 3,400 soldiers in Afghanistan, a country attacked and occupied by U.S. and NATO troops for over a decade.
http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=505809&Itemid=1