ATHENS, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Through collaboration, NATO will emerge stronger from the difficult economic conditions, the alliance's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said here on Thursday.
"We all face difficult economic conditions and we have to make difficult choices. But NATO is a family where members help each other and I am certain we will emerge stronger from this crisis," Rasmussen said when addressing an event in Athens to mark the 60th anniversary of Greece's membership in the military bloc.
"We need to address the challenges emerging from this economic environment," the NATO chief said.
In a series of meetings with Greek President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and other Greek officials, Rasmussen praised the country's role in NATO operations from Kosovo to Afghanistan to restore peace and stability and in Libya recently.
Speaking of Afghanistan, he expressed confidence that military pressure on Taliban will eventually pave the way for a political solution.
He also said the alliance supports international efforts for a diplomatic resolution of the Iran nuclear issue.
In regards to the Cyprus issue which is of particular concern to Greece, Rasmussen stressed that its non-resolution has negative impact for the divided island and Greek-Turkish relations and for EU-NATO ties as well, calling on all sides to reach an agreement under UN's auspices.
Papoulias asked Rasmussen to contribute to the resolution of another major issue for Greece -- the name dispute with Macedonia.
After the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, the use of the name Macedonia by the neighboring new independent republic has been met with strong reactions by Greece, which says that it implies Macedonia harbors territorial claims over Greece's northern province of the same name.
Under the auspices of the UN, the two sides are involved in lengthy negotiations to reach a settlement of the dispute.
"We all face difficult economic conditions and we have to make difficult choices. But NATO is a family where members help each other and I am certain we will emerge stronger from this crisis," Rasmussen said when addressing an event in Athens to mark the 60th anniversary of Greece's membership in the military bloc.
"We need to address the challenges emerging from this economic environment," the NATO chief said.
In a series of meetings with Greek President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and other Greek officials, Rasmussen praised the country's role in NATO operations from Kosovo to Afghanistan to restore peace and stability and in Libya recently.
Speaking of Afghanistan, he expressed confidence that military pressure on Taliban will eventually pave the way for a political solution.
He also said the alliance supports international efforts for a diplomatic resolution of the Iran nuclear issue.
In regards to the Cyprus issue which is of particular concern to Greece, Rasmussen stressed that its non-resolution has negative impact for the divided island and Greek-Turkish relations and for EU-NATO ties as well, calling on all sides to reach an agreement under UN's auspices.
Papoulias asked Rasmussen to contribute to the resolution of another major issue for Greece -- the name dispute with Macedonia.
After the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, the use of the name Macedonia by the neighboring new independent republic has been met with strong reactions by Greece, which says that it implies Macedonia harbors territorial claims over Greece's northern province of the same name.
Under the auspices of the UN, the two sides are involved in lengthy negotiations to reach a settlement of the dispute.
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