Stoltenberg to be appointed NATO chief

Stoltenberg's appointment came as the Ukraine crisis made NATO more relevant in Europe [EPA]

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Norway's former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is to succeed him as new chief of the military alliance in October. The appointment comes at a critical time for the alliance, with the crisis in Ukraine suddenly making NATO more relevant in Europe. Fogh Rasmussen is to step down after a NATO summit in Wales later this year, and the past weeks had seen feverish diplomatic activity as some member states sought to push their candidate into the top political job of the 28-nation military alliance. "Warm congratulations" Rasmussen said in a Twitter message on Friday to his fellow Scandinavian politician.

Source: AP