QALAT, Afghanistan -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's top official traveled to Forward Operating Base Lagman here to meet with Afghan representatives and Coalition military members on Thanksgiving Day. 

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, during a two-day tour of the country, arrived for an evening visit with officials from Provincial Reconstruction Team Qalat and other Coalition military people stationed here. He also met with Zabul Province Governor Delbar Jan Arman just hours after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai earlier in the day in Kabul. 

"We have 40 nations in the Coalition," Mr. Scheffer said, and the International Security Assistance Force "is working very good in Zabul Province where you see a major difference in the situation from where it was one year ago. Lots of progress is being made." 

Governor Arman agreed, but added he has one area of concern. 

"Education here is not good. We have very few teachers," he said. "On the other hand, we have good coordination between the Afghan government and the Coalition. Additionally, we just completed a $7 million electrification project in Qalat, giving us electricity day and night." 

During an interview with CNN International, the Secretary General said he is optimistic about the progress in Zabul Province and across Afghanistan. 

"This is NATO's most important operation, without a doubt," Mr. Scheffer said. "NATO will not fail and the Afghan people will prevail. But we need patience. Our society is one of 'seconds,' like on television where we measure in minutes and seconds. Here though, we need patience. In 2001 this was a country where there was nothing. In 2007, you can see the progress." 

After greeting and talking with a handful of military personnel eating a late Thanksgiving Day dinner, the Secretary General left with a statement of hope for Afghanistan's future. 

"I have used Thanksgiving in my public appearances to say thank you to all the American, European, NATO and Afghan men and women in uniform in the field for the tremendous job they are doing. They are facing real danger from time to time and I think I should pay tribute to them. This is a very worthwhile process that is really taking off now." 

Editor's note:  Capt. Bob Everdeen is a Public Affairs Officer deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.