Israel, Jerusalem, 3 Dec / Trend corr. A.Gut/ On 2 Dec leadership of the North Atlantic Alliance approved a new cooperation agreement with Israel, the Israeli Foreign Ministry told Trend . Tsipi Livni, the Israeli Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister, participated in a meeting of Foreign Ministers of NATO and countries of the Mediterranean dialogue.
The new agreement envisages full-scale cooperation of Israel with NATO in different fields, including military, economic, as well as in the field of struggle against terrorism. Intelligence information and experience will be exchanged within the framework of partnership. The Israeli Foreign Ministry informs about plans on rise of joint military trainings.
Livni stated that she expects close cooperation in the field of struggle against terrorism. NATO is aware of military potential of Israel and desires to use experience of the Jewish state, the Minister said.
Livni should hold negotiations with many representatives of other countries, including Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, Bernard Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the NATO Secretary General, as well as leaders of the European Union (EU), including Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for foreign relations.
The North Atlantic Council began the Mediterranean dialogue of NATO in 1994 to assist in ensuring regional stability and security, achievement of the best mutual understanding and prevention of incorrect views of countries of the Mediterranean dialogue on politics and targets of NATO. Number of participant-countries gradually rose: thus, Egypt, Israel, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunis joined in 1994, Jordan - in 1995 and Algeria in 2000.