High Tatras, Slovakia - NATO's Military Committee (MC) concluded a two-day Conference in Vysoke Tatry today, focussing on NATO operations, NATO Reforms and the New Strategic Concept (NSC). The conference was hosted by the Slovak military authorities.
Gathering the Chiefs of Defence of the 28 NATO's Members States, the MC Conference was chaired by Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola. NATO's two Strategic Commanders, Admiral James Stavridis (Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Operations - SACEUR) and General Stéphane Abrial (Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation -- SACT) also attended the meetings, while General David Petraeus, ISAF Commander, participated via video-teleconference.
The meeting was opened by the Slovak Prime Minister, H.E. Iveta Radičová. In her remarks, the Prime Minister underlined the important role of the armed forces, in a period of new emerging security challenges, and the relevance of the tasks they are called to accomplish. Mrs. Radicova stressed also the importance of the NSC, expected to be approved by Heads of State at the Lisbon Summit, as the reference document for developing the role and the approach of the Alliance in the next decade.
