IMS News   7-8 Mar. 2007	NATO's top military official visits Algeria Background NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue During his official visit to  Algeria, 7-8 March, General Ray Henault, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, met with the  Algerian Chief of Defence Staff,  General Ahmed Gaid Salah, and later with the  Algerian Prime Minister, Mr. Abderazak Bouhara and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr  Mohammed Bedjaoui, to discuss  ways to enhance cooperation between NATO and Algeria through the Mediterranean Dialogue program.   "My meetings  with the  Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as my discussions with the Chief of the Defence Staff have reaffirmed  Algeria's growing interest in cooperation with the Alliance," said General Henault.   "Clearly they see the advantages of cooperating with NATO to promote security in the region having sacrificed so much for their independence and the sovereignty of their country".   Algeria joined the Mediterranean Dialogue in March 2000 and is one of the most active members of the Mediterranean Dialogue programme.