KABUL (SW) – Sir Nicholas Kay, former British Ambassador to Afghanistan, has taken the charge of NATO Senior Civilian Representative (SCR) in Afghanistan.
“Delighted to have started work for @NATO and @jensstoltenberg as @NATOscr. Look forward to returning to Kabul to support Afghan efforts to achieve peace”, he tweeted on Monday. Ambassador Kay said in an audio message that he would be playing active and strong role in support of the Afghan search for peace. “Afghan people are hoping that 2019 will be the year of peace and NATO will be doing all it can to support efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan.”
Sir Nicholas replaces Ambassador Cornelius Zimmermann of Germany, who had been in the post since March 2017.
Last year, NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg announced Sir Nicholas knows Afghanistan well, having served for more than a year as the United Kingdom's ambassador in Kabul.
He brings an extensive experience on Afghanistan and the South Asia region, having also worked as UK Regional Coordinator for Southern Afghanistan in Helmand in 2006–2007 and as Head of the Pakistan and Afghanistan Section in the South Asian Department of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1995–1997.
According to NATO, the SCR carries forward the Alliance's political-military objectives in Afghanistan, representing the political leadership of the Alliance in Kabul officially and publicly. The role involves liaising with the Afghan Government, civil society, representatives of the international community, and neighbouring countries. Working closely with the Resolute Support Mission, the Senior Civilian Representative provides a direct channel of communication with NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
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