Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today (3 August) sent new NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen the following letter congratulating him on taking up his new post:

“Please accept my warmest congratulation on taking office as Secretary General of NATO.

The tasks now awaiting NATO are immense. Here I am thinking first and foremost of our engagement in Afghanistan but also of the work ahead on a new Strategic Concept. Together we want to prepare NATO for the challenges of the twenty-first century. The German Government is keen to give you its wholehearted support in this endeavour.

For your new and weighty responsibilities I wish you good luck and every possible success. I look forward to working closely with you in a spirit of mutual trust. I hope we will have an opportunity soon to discuss face-to-face matters of mutual concern.”