27 Nov. 2002

NATO to support ISAF 3 On 27 November, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, hosted a Force Generation Conference for the International Stabilisation Force in Afghanistan (ISAF). This was the first time that SHAPE had hosted a Force Generation Conference in support of countries who have offered to lead a military operation based on a UN Security Council Resolution that is not a NATO-led mission. On 17 October 2002, NATO's North Atlantic Council approved a request from Germany and the Netherlands for NATO support in helping them to prepare to take over command of the ISAF mission early next year. In particular, they requested NATO assistance in the areas of Force Generation, Intelligence, Co-ordination and Information Sharing, and Communications. The request was forwarded to Lord Robertson in a letter on 6 November 2002 in which both Germany and the Netherlands agreed to take over the lead for ISAF 3 in Kabul, Afghanistan by deploying the GE/NL-Corps. Turkey is in command of ISAF 2. The aim of the conference was to give countries the opportunity to make offers of contribution and to identify and discuss critical shortfalls that may need to be filled to enhance future capability. Approximately fifty representatives from NATO and Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries, along with expert staff members from SHAPE, took part in the conference. When the final force composition and other preparations are confirmed, a follow-on conference for contributing countries will be held in Potsdam, Germany on 11-12 December, 2002, chaired by the German Bundeswehr (Federal Armed Forces) Operational Command.