THE HAGUE, 17/05/06 - NATO has selected the Netherlands army base in Nieuw Milligen as the base for its new DARS unit. The first soldiers will report there at the beginning of 2007, according to the defence ministry.

The DARS unit is intended to achieve a situation in which the command systems of NATO can be deployed worldwide. Eventually, in 2012, it will consist of 260 military from various member states of the alliance, including a maximum of 44 from the Netherlands.

DARS in Nieuw Milligen, near Apeldoorn, is expected to be fully operational in 2009. In 2008, around 200 will work there. A similar unit will be located in Spain.

The Netherlands air force radar complex AOCS is located in Nieuw Milligen. Because they carry out similar tasks, AOCS and the new NATO unit will be able to work together in the future.

The NATO military will as far as possible be accommodated in existing buildings. The costs of adaptation and possible newbuilding will be paid by NATO.