Stoltenberg: NATO has to learn "difficult lessons" from Afghanistan

BRUSSELS, Nov 30 (KUNA) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Tuesday said the 30-member Alliance has to discus on lessons learnt from the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan.
"There are lessons to be learned. Some difficult lessons to be learned from 20 years of NATO presence in Afghanistan," he told reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Riga, Latvia.
The NATO chief has said that he looks forward to the discussion on Afghanistan among the foreign ministers tomorrow, Wednesday.
"For 20 years we have prevented any terrorist attack against a NATO Ally from Afghanistan," he said.
Stoltenberg noted that the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting that starts today and that will continue tomorrow has a "very full agenda." He highlighted three issues in particular: the situation in and around Ukraine, Belarus, and lessons learned from NATO's engagement in Afghanistan.
"They will address a wide range of different issues. In particular the situation in and around Ukraine. We see Russian military build-up, we see heavy armour, we see drones, and combat ready troops," he said.
He warned Russia of "heavy political and economic sanctions" if Moscow continues with its military build-up around Ukraine. (end) nk.rk