3-4 May 2005

Visit to Egypt by the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee 3-4 May 2005 News 02/05/2005 - IMS General Harald Kujat, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee visits Egypt from 03 – 04 May 2005 Background NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue On 3 and 4 May 2005 General Harald Kujat, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee visited Egypt where he had a series of meetings with senior military and foreign affairs officials. He met specifically with Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, Defence Minister Field-Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Hamdy El Wahiba and senior members of the Defence and Security Committee of the People’s Assembly, chaired by General (ret) Fathi Kozman. This visit follows up on decisions taken at the Istanbul Summit for high-level consultations within a more expanded framework for the Mediterranean Dialogue initiative. It is also a consequent of the enhancement of the practical dimension of the Dialogue and in direct support of the 2005 Mediterranean Dialogue Work Programme. The Mediterranean Dialogue Work Programme offers annually to Mediterranean Dialogue member countries a wide range of opportunities for mutual co-operation, including exercises and training, NATO courses and Port Visits. General Kujat took the opportunity to highlight the opportunities offered through this Programme. He underlined the necessity for deepening military-to-military co-operation to achieve interoperability through active participation in selected military exercises and related education and training activities that could improve the ability of Egyptian forces to operate with those of the Alliance nations in contributing to NATO-led operations consistent with the UN Charter. He welcomed Egypt’s decision to substantially increase their participation in such activities in the 2005 Work Programme. Other discussions centred on combating terrorism through intelligence sharing and maritime co-operation in the framework of Operation Active Endeavour; the situation in Iraq and NATO’s role in giving training assistance to Iraqi forces; the recent request from the President of the African Union for NATO logistical support in Darfur; the possibility of assistance with de-mining in the Western desert area, and fostering closer military-to-military co-operation with Egypt, specifically at staff officer level. General Kujat’s visit was particularly opportune in that it precedes the second meeting of the NATO Chiefs of Defence with the Seven Mediterranean Dialogue Countries which takes place at NATO HQ on Wednesday, 12 May 05.