Former Norwegian premier Stoltenberg named new NATO chief

29.03.2014 [11:28]
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Baku, March 29 (AZERTAC). Former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has been named the new secretary general of NATO, the military alliance confirmed. He replaces the outgoing Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

NATO said on Friday that "Mr. Stoltenberg will assume his functions as Secretary General," beginning October 1.

Stoltenberg's appointment comes at a key time for NATO, which has seen its relevance to Western Europe increase amid the ongoing dispute between Ukraine and Russia in the Crimean peninsula.

"NATO has been key for the security of member countries for decades," Stoltenberg told reporters on Friday, after a meeting where he told Norway's Labour Party leadership he was stepping down as party leader.

"It is an important alliance that has shown its importance, not the least in recent weeks with the dramatic events in Ukraine and Crimea."

Former Norwegian premier Stoltenberg named new NATO chief

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