NATO's military operations in Afghanistan are a decisive test of the military alliance, Chancellor Angela Merkel was quoted here on Monday as saying. Addressing a conference of the German Atlantic Society, she said NATO's acceptance, success and worldwide standing depended on what it achieved in Afghanistan, Deutsche Presse Agentur dpa reported. She added she had high expectations of the cross-border NATO summit to be held next April in Kehl, Germany and Strasbourg, France, marking the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It would be the first time the next US president, Barack Obama, would speak in Europe, she said. Merkel also called for the summit to give a sign to Russia that NATO valued it as an important partner.
