Brussels, 05/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, from the Netherlands, took up his post as NATO Secretary General on Monday 5 January. He succeeds British Lord Robertson, who has completed his four year mandate.
Mr de Hoop Scheffer was Foreign Minister of the Netherlands before taking over his new post. Upon his arrival at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, he said he would endeavour to keep the bridges between the United States and Europe in place. He is known as a convinced "Atlantist" and "European", and said upon his appointment in September 2003 that he would seek during his term of office to keep the United States and Europe on the same wavelength within the Alliance after the past year that has proved difficult for NATO, which experienced division and controversy due to the US unilateralist, pre-emptive stance over Iraq.
"There will be no lack of work and challenges in 2004. Afghanistan is still on the agenda", Mr de Hoop Scheffer said. He noted that he was taking over at the head of the Atlantic Alliance at a crucial time in its existence. He also promised that it was one of his priorities to ensure good relations between the European Union and NATO.
This is the third time that a Dutch national has held the post of NATO Secretary General, after Dirk Stikker in the sixties and Joseph Luns from 1971 to 1984. Mr de Hoop Scheffer is the eleventh NATO Secretary General.