U.S. NATO Ambassador visits Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo

Courtesy Photo | Ivo H. Daalder, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, asks the leadership of 231 Maneuver Task Force and Brig Gen. Alan S. Dohrmann about their area of responsibility during a visit to Camp Bondsteel. 091Please contact the MNTF-E Public Affairs office for media engagements or to follow-up on this information.  

CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO

12.09.2009

Courtesy Story

116th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo — Ivo H. Daalder, the U.S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and Stephen Covington, international affairs adviser to Senior Allied Commander Europe, were special guests here, Dec. 9, for lunch, tours and meetings with Multi-National Task Force-East leaders.

During the visit, Ambassador Daalder and Mr. Covington dined with Brig. Gen. Al Dohrmann, MNTF-E commander, and 18 Soldiers from the 144th Maneuver Task Force, part of the MNTF-E family of units. Command Sgt. Maj. Jack Cripe, senior enlisted advisor to the commander; and Col. Lannie Runck, MNTF-E chief of Staff, also were in attendance.

The distinguished NATO visitors then moved on for tours of the 1-144th headquarters at the camp, where they were greeted by Lt. Col. David Brady, commander of the 1-144th.

At another stop on the tour, they visited the headquarters of the 231st Maneuver Task Force, also part of MNTF-E. There, Lt. Col. Lee Nordin, 231st commander, discussed issues important to NATO's involvement in Kosovo and about the process of "deterrent presence," which will see NATO forces in Kosovo reduced to 10,000 Soldiers by Jan. 31, 2010.

"It was an honor and privilege to visit with Ambassador Daalder and Mr.Covington today, and to talk about the myriad important issues, challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for all NATO forces in Kosovo as we continue to move toward a brighter future for the people and Institutions in Kosovo," Dohrmann said.

Ambassador Daalder was appointed the U.S. ambassador to NATO by President Obama in May. He formerly held the position of director of European Affairs on President Clinton's National Security Council staff from 1995 to 1997, when he was responsible for U.S. policy toward Bosnia.

Since 1989, Mr. Covington has served in three distinct advisory positions at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Brussels. He entered Civilian Senior Service with the U.S. Government in 1996, when he was appointed special adviser to SACEUR for strategic affairs.

• Date Taken: 12.09.2009
• Date Posted: 12.09.2009 13:46
• Story ID: 42501
• Location: CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ