Press release

UK Ambassador to Afghanistan appointed as next NATO Senior Civilian Representative

Sir Nicholas Kay KCMG has been appointed as NATO鈥檚 next Senior Civilian Representative (SCR) in Afghanistan.

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

皇冠体育app Senior Civilian Representative acts as the primary link between the Afghan Government and NATO, and helps to ensure the success of the NATO Resolute Support mission which provides training, advice and assistance to Afghanistan鈥檚 security and police forces.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the appointment at a NATO Foreign Ministers meeting on 5 December 2018. Sir Nicholas will take up his appointment in March 2019.

UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

Sir Nicholas Kay will bring a wealth of experience on the political developments in Afghanistan in his new role as NATO鈥檚 Special Civilian Representative and I would like to thank him for his tireless work as the British Ambassador to Afghanistan.

Despite the violence, we have seen tentative steps towards a peace process beginning to emerge and the UK, along with our international partners, stands firmly with the Afghan government to support their efforts to build peace.

Sir Nicholas Kay said:

It is a great honour to be entrusted by Secretary General Stoltenberg to be NATO鈥檚 SCR in Afghanistan. I pay tribute to the remarkable work of Ambassador Zimmermann, the outgoing SCR. My top priority will be to lead NATO鈥檚 political and diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Afghanistan. I shall work closely with the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to make 2019 a year of progress towards sustainable peace in Afghanistan.

皇冠体育app NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan carries forward the Alliance鈥檚 political-military objectives in Afghanistan, representing the political leadership of the Alliance in Kabul officially and publicly. He liaises with the Afghan Government, civil society, representatives of the international community and neighbouring countries.

Sir Nicholas鈥� appointment as NATO Senior Civilian Representative (SCR) in Afghanistan makes him the third British SCR after Sir Mark Sedwill and Sir Simon Gass in a demonstration of the UK鈥檚 commitment to Afghanistan.

Sir Nicholas took up his appointment as Her Majesty鈥檚 Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in August 2017 and will complete his mission in December. Deputy Head of Mission Giles Lever will be Charg茅 d鈥橝ffaires ad interim.

Notes to Editors:

For further information, please contact the NATO Press Office on +32 2 707 5041

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Updates to this page

Published 5 December 2018