Nato general secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Copenhagen yesterday as part of his round trip visit to all of the Nato member countries. The former Danish prime minister, who took over the role in the spring, said it was good to be back on his first official visit to Denmark in his new role.
Fogh met his successor Lars Løkke Rasmussen at parliament to discuss Denmark’s role in and support of Nato, attended lunch at the Royal Palace, and then finished off the day at the University of Copenhagen, where he met with students and took part in an open discussion about Nato, Afghanistan, and Denmark’s role in both of these.
Following their meeting at parliament, the PM and the general secretary met with press to announce the results of the meeting and Denmark’s future in Nato.
Afghanistan was top of the agenda and Fogh admitted that the international community has focused too much on a purely military solution in Afghanistan, and too little on the re-establishment of institutions of civil society in the country. Lars Løkke said he supports this notion and that it is precisely this focus that will be a Danish top priority at the upcoming Nato top meeting in November in Lisbon.
‘We are making progress,’ he said. ‘We are looking to encourage a situation where we will eventually be able to give the Afghan people larger responsibility. My hope is that we will be able to make the right decisions at the top meeting for the next phase, which will see the Afghans themselves taking over control.’
Fogh’s response was complimentary. ‘I have a strong appreciation of Denmark’s efforts in Afghanistan, where Denmark, despite its size, pulls its weight and has a very good status amongst the allied nations,’ he said. ‘
As for Afghanistan, the situation is moving forward. It is not an easy assignment and there are still increasing fights and fatalities, but this is due to us having sent more soldiers down there and them attacking the Taleban’s main camps. This is part of our strategy in cleaning up and getting the country back on track.’
However, Fogh conceded that there is no definite timeframe for getting the country back on track, as things cannot happen until the Afghan people are ready. Otherwise, he contended, it will all be for nothing and the country will become a haven for terrorists.
Regarding the large number of fatalities and the now almost 10 year-long war in Afghanistan, he said: ‘It is important to remember why we are even in Afghanistan - the basic reason for why we invaded and our efforts and results thus far.’ Even though support from the Danish people for Denmark’s presence in Afghanistan may be faltering, this point is important for people to keep in mind, he urged.
‘We have already made a huge different there. Five million Afghan refugees have already returned and I would like it if the people and the press had a more positive view of our efforts there. I am not trying to make everything sound perfect and idyllic, but there have been results and these should also be focused on.’
The Copenhagen Post
