President Peres met with Secretary General of NATO
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President Peres met with the Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in Brussels
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3/7/2013
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Israeli President Shimon Peres with Nato Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen Belgium 7/3/2013Photo Moshe Milner GPO
Copyright: Government Press Office
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GovXParagraph1
The President of the State of Israel , President Shimon PERES, conducted a work meeting today with the Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen at NATO headquarters in Brussels. In the meeting, the two discussed the importance of strengthening the strategic cooperation between Israel and NATO in the security and technology fields.
President Peres briefed the the Secretary General of NATO on the strategic threats that the Middle East is facing with a focus on the threat of a nuclear Iran and Hezbollah. At the beginning of the meeting, President Peres stressed Israel's concern regarding the situation on Israel's northern border and said: "We are monitoring the ongoing attemps to build up weapons by Hezbollah which is stockpiling weapons and missiles for terrorism and war. Hezbollah is sowing destruction in Lebanon and must be seen as a terrorist organization in every way."
The two agreed during their discussions that Israel and NATO are partners in the fight against terror and the search for peace, and they discussed ways to maintain security in the Middle East and the world. President Peres stressed the need to maintain and increase the cooperation between Israel and NATO and Israel's ability to cooperation and provide technological assistance and knowledge from the vast experience Israel had gained in the field of counter-terrorism, "Israel will be happy to share the knowledge it has gained and its technological abilities with NATO. Israel has experience in contending with complex situations and we must strengthen the cooperation so we can fight global terror together and assist NATO with the complex threats it faces in Afghanistan."
Following the meeting the two delivered joint statements to the press and Secretary General Rasmussen said, "Mr President, let me warmly welcome you on your visit to NATO headquarters. You have served your country for over sixty years. You won the Nobel Price for your role in the Oslo Accords. And you are a staunch proponent of peace and cooperation in the Middle East. Along with six Arab countries, Israel is an important partner of the Alliance in the Mediterranean Dialogue. The security of NATO is linked with the security and stability of the Mediterranean and of the Middle East region. And our Alliance attaches great value to our political dialogue and our practical cooperation. Israel is one of our longest-standing partner countries. We are faced with the same strategic challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean. And as we face the security threats of the 21st century, we have every reason to deepen our long-standing partnership with our Mediterranean Dialogue countries, including Israel. We all know the regional situation is complex. But the Mediterranean Dialogue remains a unique multilateral forum, where Israel and six Arab countries can discuss together with European and North American countries common security challenges. I see further opportunities for deepening our already close political dialogue and practical cooperation to our mutual benefit."
President Peres thanked him and said, "Israel is not a member of NATO but is a partner of NATO! We share the same values of peace and security and we also share the same threats. Terrorism today affects the entire world. I congratulate you for all that you are doing as the Secretary General of NATO."
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