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BRUSSELS, Belgium - Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari appealed Tuesday for NATO to quickly begin its promised mission to train his country's armed forces and provide assistance including military hardware. "We need this training ... to be carried out as soon as possible," Zebari told reporters at NATO headquarters. "We are in a race against time — it's a matter of urgency." NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the 26 allies would decide this month on launching the training mission. He said the alliance would also consider Zebari's requests for military equipment, help guarding Iraq's borders and protection...

<p>BRUSSELS &#8212; NATO selected Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as the alliance's new secretary general yesterday, picking a diplomat-turned-politician to help ease tensions between the United States and key European allies over the Iraq war.</p> <p>After a nine-month search, ambassadors from the 19 NATO nations agreed on Mr. De Hoop Scheffer to replace Britain's George Robertson, whose four-year term ends Jan. 1.</p>

Career diplomat Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is likely to take over the NATO reins in December after Secretary-General George Robertson steps down at the end of his four-year term Although the Netherlands hasn't even formally proposed Jaap de Hoop Scheffer for NATO secretary-general, the cards seem to be falling the foreign minister's way. NATO insiders in Brussels on Wednesday confirmed a German newspaper report that alleged the Dutch diplomat was the top candidate to lead the North Atlantic alliance after the current head, the Scot George Robertson, completes his term in mid-December. The United States in particular is expected to...

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Hopes that a woman might at last become secretary-general of NATO were snuffed out on Thursday as Norway's defense minister pulled out of the race, leaving a Dutchman and a Canadian in the frame. It may be too early to make a call on a selection process Washington's envoy to NATO says is as arcane as electing a pope. But diplomats said Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has a clear edge over Canadian Finance Minister John Manley. Indeed, in announcing that she was not a candidate for the Western defense alliance's top political job, Norwegian...

Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and foreign minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer are on a working visit to the United States. They will hold talks with US Vice-President Dick Cheney about the ongoing problems with restoring order in Iraq. Mr De Hoop Scheffer is expected to argue for a more prominent role for the United Nations. Tomorrow the Dutch ministers will have breakfast with President George W Bush. Mr Balkenende and Mr De Hoop Scheffer will also lay a wreath at Arlington national cemetery.

Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap De Hoop-Scheffer has told the US government that the Netherlands is willing to take part in an international peace force in Iraq. The minister is in the United States for two days of talks with US officials, including National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. The United States wants as many countries as possible to participate in the peacekeeping force, which would remain in Iraq until a democratic government is installed.

The Dutch foreign minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is to ask the Saudi ambassador for clarification concerning financial support to radical Muslims. The ambassador is to be summoned following pressure from the government's coalition members. Last week, the interior minister Johan Remkes claimed Saudi Arabia was sending money to radical Islamic groups all over the world, including the Netherlands. It is unclear whether Mr de Hoop Scheffer will speak personally to the ambassador, or when the meeting will take place. The minister leaves for the United States tomorrow on a visit due to last several days.

Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has again fiercely criticised the French position on the question of Iraq. He said the French could destroy the United Nations if they use their veto against a new Anglo-American resolution. The minister added that he could not imagine France would actually use its veto, although he fears it could be a close thing. The Dutch cabinet backs the British plan for a modified UN resolution grating Iraq a little more time to disarm. On Wednesday, Mr De Hoop Scheffer said he was "exceptionally disappointed" by the decision on the part of...

DUTCH Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is unhappy with a Franco-German proposal to disarm Iraq circulating in the media, his spokesman told AFP. "We are not sure if there even is a plan, it is foolish to launch this scheme through the media and the timing is unfortunate because, as the weapons inspectors prepare to report to the United Nations on Friday, the pressure on (Iraqi leader) Saddam Hussein should not let up," ministry spokesman Bart Jochems said. "If you start waving peace plans now, Hussein will think, 'Great, I will fool them again'," he explained.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell says his government is very pleased by Dutch support for his country's Iraq policy. Mr Powell made the remarks after a meeting in Washington with his Dutch counterpart Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Mr Scheffer said he was pleased that the US was going to let the UN Security council decide the matter. He added that the pressure on Iraq has to be maintained to force it to accept weapons inspections. In an interview with the Dutch news programme NOVA, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said The Netherlands was 'a US lackey'. He added...