Brussels, 09/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - After the NATO ministerial, Defence Ministers of the five Eurocorps nations - Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain - met to discuss the possibility of the corps taking command of ISAF when the Canadians leave in August. After the meeting, Charles Goerens, Defence Minister of Luxembourg, which is the political lead nation of Eurocorps for a year, announced the conditions for the corps taking command of ISAF: - that the mission should not exceed six months; - NATO should provide communications support; and - ISAF should continue to operate under the same conditions.
Speaking at the NATO Secretary General's press conference before the Eurocorps ministerial, German Defence Minister Peter Struck said that Eurocorps nations were prepared to take over ISAF and that the Franco-German Brigade would be involved. He expected Spain to decide on the issue in the next few weeks.