By IANS
Abu Dhabi : Discussions are underway between NATO and the United Arab Emirates to cooperate in line with the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), according to the NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, WAM news agency reported Saturday.
The NATO Secretary General, who is here for talks with the UAE leadership, said that relations between the region and NATO should be based on trust so that full understanding could be achieved.
“We do not want to come to the region uninvited, therefore, we have to build relationships based on confidence,” he said adding that NATO is no longer a Cold War organisation, and is evolving to meet the needs of the current era.
“NATO is not seeking political or military interests in the region, rather it is looking for is common interest based on common understanding,” he said.
He also praised the UAE’s participation in peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan and said that the UAE has a tradition of exporting peace and humanitarian values.