"Morocco wants to further develop its partnership with the NATO in a practical way through positive dialogue,” the NATO chief said during a meeting with Moroccan journalists held by the Foreign Minister in Brussels.

    Rasmussen commended Morocco’s “highly appreciated” contributions to peace-keeping operations led by the UN in the Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo and efforts aiming to maintain stability in the Mediterranean region.

    He expressed NATO’s concern over the situation in the Sahel and Saharan region, adding that the North Atlantic Alliance endeavours to reinforce cooperation relations notably with partners, such as Morocco, with a view to fighting new threats that jeopardise international peace and stability on top of which terrorism, cyber attacks, organized crime and arms and human trafficking.

    In this respect, he stressed the need for cooperation with NATO’s partners in the field of intelligence and information exchange in addition to military training.

    For his part, Chairman of the NATO’s Military Committee Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola highlighted that Morocco is increasingly engaged with the NATO in the Mediterranean, commending the action taken by the Kingdom in peace-keeping operations in Kosovo.

    Concerning the surge of criminal activities in the Sahelo-Saharan region, Paola voiced the Alliance’ willingness to bring necessary support to countries in the region in accordance with NATO’s vision.

    On the same occasion, Nicola de Santis coordinator for Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, gave a presentation on NATO’s transformation and openness towards the Mediterranean and the middle east