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NATO allies pick Dutch foreign minister as next secretary general
Brussels, Belgium-AP -- The NATO allies have picked their next secretary general. Heâs Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.Former NBA-Europe star....not In an official statement, the alliance says the ambassadors of the 19 NATO nations agreed that de Hoop Scheffer will succeed Britainâs Lord Robertson, who is stepping down in December after serving his four-year term. Robertson did yeoman work as I recall, hawkish when need be De Hoop Scheffer is seen as a bridge maker between the United States and those European allies whose opposition to the Iraq war earlier this year prompted NATOâs deepest split in years. I do bridges, and the life cycle should be more than 50 yrs here, pal The Dutch government supported the war but avoided taking a high profile in the dispute with NATOâs anti-war nations led by France and Germany. The Dutch government has maintained the Netherlandsâ traditional support for both a closer integration among European nations and a strong trans-Atlantic alliance. French support for the guy? Iâll withhold judgement Posted by: Frank G 2003-09-22 |
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