(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Foreign Ministers of NATO and 14 partner countries decided on Tuesday to launch a new mission called Resolute Support as of 1 January 2015 opening a new chapter of cooperation between the Alliance and Afghanistan.
The new NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces will "ensure that we continue to build on the gains we have made in Afghanistan," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference tonight.
"This is a significant moment for us and Afghanistan. Resolute Support will be a non-combat mission. Around 12,000 troops from NATO Allies and partners will train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces," Stoltenberg stated.
On his part, President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani told the joint press conference that "NATO and Afghanistan are entering a new phase of partnership based on mutual sacrifice and accomplishments of the last 10 years.
"We are gratified that the Resolute Mission has been approved," he said.
Ghani said that his participation and the participation of Afghan Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah at today's meeting marks "the start of this new chapter in our cooperation." He said that "our goal is to provide in Afghanistan a platform for cooperation with the Islamic world and international community.
"We will not become a battlefield for proxy war of clashing interests or ideas," he stressed.
UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Nicholas Haysom and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini also attended the meeting.
Ghani also met with the new President of the European Council Donald Tusk and the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz earlier Tuesday.
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