Peretz discusses cooperation with NATO

[rossana <rossana at comodinoposta.org>]

Credo che il livello che stiamo raggiungendo abbia superato il limite:

Amir Peretz made history Wednesday after becoming the first Israeli 
defense minister to visit NATO headquarters in Brussels. During his 
visit, Peretz met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and 
discussed ways to enhance cooperation between Israel and the western 
military alliance.

During the two-hour meeting, Peretz, who spoke through translators, 
affirmed his intention to attend an informal gathering in Spain next 
week of defense ministers from Middle Eastern countries that are members 
of NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue, a 10-year-old forum for political 
consultations and practical cooperation between countries of the 
Mediterranean area including Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Jordan.

Peretz also confirmed Israel's intention to dispatch a high-ranking Navy 
officer to Naples in the coming months where he will participate in 
NATO's anti-terror Operation Active Endeavor.

NATO launched Operation Active Endeavor in the wake of 9/11 and has 
succeeded in bringing a number of Mediterranean countries to Naples to 
share intelligence information concerning naval terror and suspicious 
ships in the region.

Peretz and de Hoop Scheffer also discussed the possibility of 
incorporating Israeli defense industries into NATO forums on the 
development of anti-terror technology. Spain, a member of NATO, is in 
the midst of developing a laser system that will be capable of detecting 
explosives from a distance.

Peretz emphasized the Iranian threat during the meeting and urged de 
Hoop Scheffer to back further international pressure on Teheran in an 
effort to stop its nuclear program. "2007 is a critical year for the 
diplomatic efforts that are being made to stop Iran's nuclear program," 
Peretz told the NATO chief.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467859557&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull