The procedure for transferring the powers of the Secretary General has begun at NATO headquarters.

At NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, the procedure began for the transfer of powers of the organization’s Secretary General from the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg to the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte. The ceremony is broadcast on the North Atlantic bloc website. 

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The transfer of powers began at 9.00 Brussels time with the laying of wreaths by Stoltenberg and Rutte, followed by short statements to the press.

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It is also expected that at 10.00 the outgoing 65-year-old Secretary General Stoltenberg will open a meeting of the North Atlantic Council dedicated to the change of leader, and 57-year-old Rutte will then close the meeting in the status of the new Secretary General.

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Rutte also plans to give his first press conference as secretary general at 11.30 Brussels time.

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Former Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg has served as Secretary General for the past ten years. Mark Rutte, who replaced him, has been Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs of the Netherlands since October 2010.