Jiri Sedivy to become first Czech member of NATO command

Former Czech defence minister and current deputy minister for European affairs Jiri Sedivy will become NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, the Czech NATO Information Centre reported on Monday. Mr Sedivy, who has won in a six-month competition out of more than 20 candidates, will assume the post in September or October this year, becoming the highest ranking Czech official in NATO ever.

Speaking to the Czech News Agency, Mr Sedivy said his appointment was an acknowledgement of Czech politics as a whole, namely for example the successful foreign missions of the Czech military. He also made it clear that he wouldn't act as a representative of the Czech Republic, but as an employee of NATO's foreign office.