Press Advisories

1. 10. 201423:02

Prime Minister Sobotka congratulated the new Secretary General of NATO on his new office

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka sent a congratulatory letter to Jens Stoltenberg, who took up the post of Secretary General of NATO on 1 October 2014. The Prime Minister wished the former Norwegian Prime Minister every success in his new role.

"Being a NATO Ally is for the Czech Republic a cornerstone of our security. Through our active membership in the Alliance we take on our share of responsibility for peace in Europe and the North Atlantic Area as well as for international stability," said the Prime Minister in his letter.

According to the Prime Minister, it is also important that the North Atlantic Alliance, after the conclusion of its combat mission in Afghanistan, focus primarily on reinforcing its collective defence and on defence cooperation between the Member States. The Czech Republic will become more involved in military exercises and thus contribute to strengthening the Alliance’s combat readiness. In accordance with the conclusions of the NATO Summit in Wales, the Government headed by Prime Minister Sobotka will gradually increase defence spending in order to be able to fulfill our commitments to the Alliance.