[A-List] NATO Urges Saudi Arabia to Join Cooperation Pact

["Yoshie Furuhashi" <critical.montages@xxxxxxxxx>]

<http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2007-01-21T122430Z_01_L21541736_RTRUKOC_0_UK-NATO-SAUDI.xml&type=worldNews&WTmodLoc=World-C3-More-4>
NATO urges Saudi Arabia to join cooperation pact
Sun Jan 21, 2007 12:24 PM GMT

RIYADH (Reuters) - NATO appealed to Saudi Arabia on Sunday to consider
entering a cooperation agreement with the Western alliance, citing
shared interest in stopping weapons proliferation in an apparent
reference to Iran.

"I do want to stress here today that NATO would very much value the
participation of Saudi Arabia," NATO Deputy Secretary-General
Alessandro Minuto Rizzo said at a meeting with Gulf Arab states in the
Saudi capital.

He was referring to the Istanbul Initiative of 2004, when the
26-nation alliance launched a drive to establish closer links with
Middle East and North African countries.

The initiative received a cool response at the time because it was
seen in the framework of the U.S. administration's drive to spread
democratic reforms in the region after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq
in 2003 toppled Saddam Hussein.

But Washington's allies in the Arab world, particularly in the Gulf,
are now worried about the influence of Shi'ite Iran in Iraq and
elsewhere in the predominantly Sunni Muslim region.

The United States accuses Tehran of seeking to set up a covert nuclear
weapons programme, a fear shared by Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest
oil exporter and key U.S. ally. Iran denies this saying its nuclear
programme aims to generate power.

Saudi Arabia fears that U.S. troops will leave Iraq prematurely,
allowing Iran to consolidate its influence and leaving Sunni Arabs at
the mercy of Shi'ite militias, analysts say.

"We share a number of common challenges -- how to curb the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, how to counter extremism
... how to deal with the destabilising effects of failed states,"
Rizzo said.

A number of Arab countries have warmed to the initiative, which offers
NATO expertise and help in defence planning, border control and
combating militant groups, as well as participation in military
exercises.

"I believe it will be in the interests of Saudi Arabia to exploit this
potential," Rizzo said.

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have joined the
initiative. But analysts say Saudi Arabia, which is boosting its
military to counter a perceived threat from Iran, is concerned over
what NATO would want in return.

Islamic militants linked to al Qaeda behind a wave of violence to
topple the Saudi royal family have cited the presence of U.S. troops
in the kingdom from 1990 to 2003 as one reason for their campaign.

<http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=944534>
Saudi Arabia underscores in-depth cooperation with the NATO
POL-GCC-NATO
Saudi Arabia underscores in-depth cooperation with the NATO

RIYADH, Jan 21 (KUNA) -- Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal
inaugurated here on Sunday a seminar entitled "NATO-GCC Cooperation
Within the Framework of Istanbul Initiative" praising the approach of
the regional states to broaden cooperation with the Western alliance.

In an address at the inaugural session, Prince Saud said the Middle
East is one of the regions in the world that is characterized by
turmoil. He called for effective international cooperation to bring
about stability in the region, according to official Saudi Press
Agency (SPA).

Prince Saud noted that the extremist ideology grows in the atmosphere
of disappointment, caused by the failure of the international
community in settling the pending chronic problems.

"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes in the importance of fighting
terrorism and extremism and spreading the values of tolerance and
moderation as well as combating racial ideologies," he said.

Prince Saud pointed out that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, had earlier called for the convening of
the extraordinary Makkah Summit which slammed terrorism and extremism
and advocated moderation and dialogue as well as urged for confronting
the phenomenon of "Islam-phobia." He noted that King abdullah has
called for establishing an international center for combating
terrorism under supervision of the United Nations.

Prince Saud said the kingdom has been following up with great concern
on the current developments following the end of the era of the Cold
War.

He noted that the NATO has formulated the Istanbul Cooperation
Initiative which includes some of the GCC member states.

Prince Saud underscored the importance of exchange of data and
expertise in combating terrorism as well as prevention of
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

"However, any cooperation should be based on the respect of
sovereignty and peculiarities of the countries as well as their
political options," he noted Underlining importance of the seminar,
Prince Saud said it will provide a good opportunity to exchange views
clearly on issues of mutual interest.

The participants of the seminar will review a number of topics
including the role of NATO after the era of the Cold War; the regional
problems as well as means of promoting the Istanbul Initiative.

The inaugural session was attended by a number of dignitaries and
senior officials.

The seminar is organized by the Institute of Diplomatic Studies in
cooperation with the Dubai-based Gulf Center for Studies.(end) ud.
rk

KUNA 211837 Jan 07NNNN
--
Yoshie
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