Brussels: Britain`s ambassador in Kabul, Mark Sedwill, will be NATO`s new civilian representative in Afghanistan, alliance diplomats confirmed on Tuesday, ahead of a major international conference on the country.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will
publicly present Sedwill, who will coordinate civilian efforts
in Afghanistan with the military alliance, at a press
conference at 1445 GMT (2015 IST) on Tuesday, the diplomats
confirmed.
"The new appointee succeeds Ambassador Fernando Gentilini
who served as NATO`s fourth senior civilian representative in
Afghanistan from May 2008 to January 2010," NATO said in a
statement announcing the press conference.
Sedwill will be "responsible for carrying forward the
political-military aspects of the alliance`s assistance to the
Afghan government.
"He will work closely with the Afghan government, ISAF
(NATO-led International Security Assistance Force), the United
Nations and other key stakeholders in Afghanistan," it said.
Last week, a NATO spokesperson said the new nominee would
have a bigger team and a beefed up role, as the alliance seeks
to streamline military and civilian efforts to help rebuild
Afghanistan, and beat a Taliban-led insurgency.
PTI
