NATO is seeking to deepen political and military contacts with Israel and a number of Arab states and may invite their representatives to a summit of alliance leaders in June, officials said Thursday.
According to The AP, it was not yet clear at what level these nations would be represented at the June 28-29 summit in Istanbul, Turkey.
Officials said the alliance wants to upgrade its 10-year-old Mediterranean Dialogue program with Israel, Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. The program includes regular political meetings, military exchanges and conferences, small military exercises, information sharing on terrorism and preparations to help each other in peacekeeping, de-mining and civil emergencies.
Officials also stressed NATO had no plans to become involved in the Middle East peace process.
Some allied foreign ministers, at a meeting last June, raised the prospect of NATO playing a peacekeeping role if Israel and Palestinians agree on a peace plan, but officials said there have been no discussions on that. (Albawaba.com)
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