NATO extends tenure for Secretary-General Rasmussen

BRUSSELS, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- NATO said Wednesday it extended the tenure of Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen through September so he could preside over next year's summit.

NATO said it decided to extend Rasmussen's tenure through Sept. 30. The decision was made so Rasmussen could prepare for the NATO summit planned in South Wales from Sept. 4-5.

Rasmussen said last month the September summit would be a milestone for the alliance.

"We will mark the conclusion, at the end of 2014, of our ISAF mission, as well as a new phase of our engagement in Afghanistan," he said Nov. 15.

NATO members are looking to end their military obligations to Afghanistan next year as national forces take on more security responsibilities. Some member states may keep their forces deployed in Afghanistan to help with the military transition.

Afghanistan holds presidential and provincial council elections in April.

Rasmussen, a former prime minister of Denmark, was first appointed NATO secretary-general in 2009.