SACEUR Appoints ISAF Commanders

SHAPE, Belgium -- The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General James Jones, has appointed German Army Lieutenant-General Götz Gliemeroth as the Commander of the new NATO mission to Afghanistan, and Canadian Army Major-General Andrew Leslie as the Deputy Commander.

Both officers will assume their new appointments in August 2003, when NATO takes over the lead of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from the German-Netherlands Corps in Kabul.

Currently, Germany and the Netherlands share lead nation responsibilities and command a multinational force of approximately 4,600 troops drawn from 29 nations.
Gen Jones expressed his deep gratitude to Germany and Canada for committing highly experienced and qualified officers to lead this demanding and challenging crisis response operation.

“The leadership that Germany and Canada have demonstrated today, as well as that of the nations who have led the way before them, signals to the citizens of Afghanistan that the world community is supporting them in their quest for prosperity, peace and the desire to rebuild their nation,” said Gen Jones.

Lt. Gen. Gliemeroth is currently commanding NATO’s Joint Headquarters Centre in Heidelberg, Germany. Maj. Gen. Leslie is the Commander of Regular and Reserve Force army brigade groups in Canada’s Land Forces Central Area, based in Toronto.

NATO troops will continue to assist the Afghan Transitional Authority (ATA) in maintaining security in Kabul and the surrounding area so that the ATA, as well as UN personnel, can carry out their work in a secure environment.

Additional information

• CV and photo of Lieutenant-General Götz Gliemeroth