TO to strengthen cooperation with Israel: Stoltenberg

Brussels, June 22: TO is committed to increasing cooperation with Israel, TO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said here on Tuesday while meeting Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. “For more than 20 years, Israel has been a very active TO partner through the Mediterranean dialogue, the only security forum that brings together TO Allies with Israel and Arab countries,” Stoltenberg said at the TO headquarters. He stressed that TO and Israel are taking cooperation a step further, agreeing to establish an Israeli Mission at TO, headed by Israel’s Ambassador to the European Union, according to a TO press release, Xinhua reported. Stoltenberg noted that Israel was the first Mediterranean dialogue country to agree a Security of Information Agreement with TO in 2001.  He highlighted that TO is committed to increasing cooperation with Israel, as well as with other Mediterranean dialogue partners. They also discussed the evolving security situation in the Middle East and Africa. Stoltenberg expressed his condolences on the recent terrorist attacks in Tel Aviv, which killed at least four Israelis. (IANS)