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| Afghan priority for new Nato head | Afghan priority for new Nato head |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nato's priority must be the war in Afghanistan, including negotiations with moderate members of the Taliban, the organisation's new leader says. | |
| Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said there were "groups that you can talk with" with a view to splitting the militant group. | |
| He said his second priority would be improving ties with Russia, though he admitted there would be difficulties. | He said his second priority would be improving ties with Russia, though he admitted there would be difficulties. |
| One of his other ideas is to create a "standing anti-piracy" capability. | One of his other ideas is to create a "standing anti-piracy" capability. |
| Addressing the media on his first day in the job, Mr Rasmussen said he wanted Nato to work more with civilian organisations. | |
| "Nato is a strong military alliance and we need a strong military effort in Afghanistan," he said. | |
| "But to win the peace and to win hearts and minds we need to provide Afghan people with better life opportunities and assist the government in better democratic processes." | |
| He said there was "a lot at stake" both internationally and for Nato in Afghanistan. | |
| While appreciating the increase in troops that Nato's allies have pledged, Mr Rasmussen said: "This is no military solution solely. We have to step up our civilian efforts as well." | |
| Russian focus | |
| As the first anniversary of a brief war between Russia and Georgia looms, Mr Rasmussen said the conflict had had a "very negative impact of relations between Nato and Russia". | |
| It erupted on 7 August last year as Georgia tried to retake control of South Ossetia. Russia quickly repelled the assault, and built up its military presence in both South Ossetia and Georgia's other breakaway region of Abkhazia. | |
| But Nato's new leader said the differences between the alliance and Moscow should not overshadow common security concerns, such as terrorism. | |
| "We are faced with real disputes on a number of areas," he said. | |
| "However, I consider it a very important challenge for me to convince the Russian people and Russian leadership that Nato is not an enemy of Russia, Nato is not directed against Russia." |