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NATO appoints new chairman of military committee

Xinhua, June 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

NATO on Friday appointed General Petr Pavel, previously the chief of defense of the Czech Republic, as the new chairman of the NATO Military Committee.

The former chairman General Knud Bartels leaves his position after a term of three and a half years.

At the farewell ceremony attended by senior NATO military officials, Gen. Bartels laid a wreath at the NATO Memorial to honor the servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in NATO-led missions and operations.

Addressing the Military Committee, General Bartels thanked them for their work and their contribution in delivering timely military advice to the North Atlantic Council during his time as chairman.

NATO said in the press release: "This is an important moment in the history of the Alliance as General Pavel is the first representative of a former Warsaw Pact nation to become chairman of the Military Committee."

Pavel said in his speech that he would be starting his tenure at "an interesting but demanding time for the Alliance characterized by significant changes in the security environment." Endit