Poland welcomes appointment of new NATO chief
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
29.03.2014 08:10
Poland's foreign ministry has welcomed the selection of former Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg to lead NATO, at a time of "emerging threats" to members of the alliance.
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg adresses the media in Oslo, Norway, 28 March: photo - EPA/HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN
"Poland welcomes this unanimous decision" a statement by the Polish foreign ministry says, for Jens Stoltenberg to take over as NATO secretary-general when Anders Fogh Rasmussen ends his five-year term in office in September.
"We are very confident that under the new leadership and new security conditions, the Alliance will continue to ensure rapid and effective responses to the threats and challenges emerging at the borders of the Euro-Atlantic Community," the statement adds.
Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski congratulated Jens Stoltenberg, tweeting that he was sure that he would "strive for equal security for all members".
Stoltenberg was Norway's prime minister for 10 years until losing power last September.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Twitter that Stoltenberg was "the right man to build on NATO's record of strength and success," adding that the Ukraine crisis demonstrated the need for the alliance to show strong and determined leadership. (pg)