*Sources: Int'l Media / By Pierre Tran Published: 12 Jun 2009 17:20
(NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - June 16, 2009: The French government has nominated Gen. Stéphane Abrial, chief of the French Air Force, to head NATO's Allied Transformation Command, Norfolk Va., and Gen. Philippe Stoltz to Joint Command Lisbon, which is responsible for the NATO Response Force, a statement from the office of President Nicolas Sarkozy said June 10. 
Gen. Stephane Abrial is chief of the French Air Force. The Chief of Staff of the Armies (CEMA) in regard to the use of forces and the control of military operations. The Chief of Staff-Air Force (CEMAA) determines the air force doctrines and advises the CEMA how to deploy French aerial assets.
The nominations will go through the NATO ratification procedure, Ministry of Defense spokesman Laurent Teisseire said June 11.
The two posts are senior command positions previously held by American officers and their attribution to French nationals follows on from France's reintegration into NATO's integrated military structure earlier this year.
"By transferring these two very important posts, the United States has permitted a new balance of responsibilities between Americans and European in the military structure," the statement said. "Henceforth, one out of two strategic commands and two out of three operational commands are held by Europeans. This shows a concrete strengthening of Europe's role in the Alliance, which is at the heart of our action."
Sarkozy thanked President Barack Obama at a June 6 meeting in Caen, northern France, the statement said.
Besides these two nominations, 17 other French staff officers have also been slated for NATO military command positions as part of a regular rotation of posts.
Gen. Stephane Abrial is chief of the French Air Force. The Chief of Staff of the Armies (CEMA) in regard to the use of forces and the control of military operations. The Chief of Staff-Air Force (CEMAA) determines the air force doctrines and advises the CEMA how to deploy French aerial assets.
The nominations will go through the NATO ratification procedure, Ministry of Defense spokesman Laurent Teisseire said June 11.
The two posts are senior command positions previously held by American officers and their attribution to French nationals follows on from France's reintegration into NATO's integrated military structure earlier this year.
"By transferring these two very important posts, the United States has permitted a new balance of responsibilities between Americans and European in the military structure," the statement said. "Henceforth, one out of two strategic commands and two out of three operational commands are held by Europeans. This shows a concrete strengthening of Europe's role in the Alliance, which is at the heart of our action."
Sarkozy thanked President Barack Obama at a June 6 meeting in Caen, northern France, the statement said.
Besides these two nominations, 17 other French staff officers have also been slated for NATO military command positions as part of a regular rotation of posts. 
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