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NATO wraps up Warsaw summit, condemns Russia’s annexation of Crimea

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 09.07.2016 18:54
NATO leaders on Saturday wrapped up a summit in Warsaw by approving an aid package for Ukraine and declaring they “do not – and will not – recognise Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea” in 2014.
Barack Obama at a conference concluding the NATO summit in Warsaw. Photo: Paweł Supernak Barack Obama at a conference concluding the NATO summit in Warsaw. Photo: Paweł Supernak

The move followed a landmark decision taken on the first day of the summit - the largest in NATO history - to deploy four multinational, rotating battalions to Poland and three Baltic countries, which all fear potential Russian aggression.

The summit brought 21 prime ministers and 18 presidents to Poland including US leader Barack Obama, who said after meeting Polish President Andrzej Duda that America is committed to the NATO principle of collective defence.

Obama also said that a US armoured brigade would arrive in Europe at the beginning of next year, with its headquarters to be located in Poland.

The NATO summit also focused on dangers on its southern flank.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Saturday announced the military alliance would help its partners fight against the so-called Islamic State, provide AWACS surveillance aircraft to help tackle terrorism, and would launch a new security operation in the Mediterranean named Sea Guardian.

On the second day of their gathering in Warsaw, NATO country leaders also declared the alliance would extend its Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan beyond 2016.

They agreed to provide financial support for the Afghan armed forces and police until 2020, but said they expected the country to implement reforms.

Meanwhile, NATO foreign ministers in Warsaw expressed support for Georgia's hopes of joining the alliance.

Montenegro, which has observer status at the summit, will join NATO as its 29th member within a few months.

Andrzej
Andrzej Duda. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

On the sidelines of the summit, Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz and his Turkish counterpart on Saturday signed a letter of intent on expanding electronic warfare capabilities.

Referring to Britain’s referendum vote to the leave the EU, Macierewicz said he was certain "that Brexit will not have a negative impact on Britain's level of engagement in NATO."

Summing up the Warsaw gathering, Polish President Duda said the summit had demonstrated the unity of the Western military alliance. “This summit was a success for NATO and a success for Poland as a member of the North Atlantic Alliance."

He added: "The summit ended with very important decisions being taken, some even say decisions that have a historical significance."

(pk)

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