UAE Foreign Affairs Ministers holds talks with NATO MPs over peace and security issues

Abu Dhabi, Oct. 10, 2008 (WAM) - Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Wednesday night parliamentarians from 15 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) nations, who are currently interacting with the legislators from Middle Eastern and North African countries at a seminar on “The Middle East and Global Challenges”, being hosted by Abu Dhabi on October 8 and 9.

Sheikh Abdullah lauded the existing joint cooperation between the UAE and NATO under the umbrella of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), which was launched by NATO in June 2004 in partnership with countries of the broader Middle East with the aim of maintaining and enhancing stability and peace in the region.

The UAE minister exchanged with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegates views on a wide range of issues regarding regional and international security and peace and ways of bringing about stability to flash points.

NATO mandate in peace-keeping missions around the world and its key role in defending security and freedom of member states were also figured high during the talks.

Sheikh Abdullah hosted a dinner banquet in honour of his guests which attended by a number of senior officials.

More than 50 parliamentarians, officials from international organizations and governments, senior academics, journalists and experts ware taking part in the two-day international event. – Emirates News Agency, WAM