NATO Secretary General visits Jordan

News 12/01/2005 - NATO NATO Secretary General to visit Jordan Opinions 13/01/2005 - NATO Speech by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Jordan at the World Affairs Council, Amman Background NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue & Istanbul Cooperation Initiative

The Secretary General of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, travelled to Jordan on 13 January, 2005, the first time a NATO Secretary General visited the country.

The aim of the visit was to discuss the implementation of a more ambitious and expanded framework for NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue, decided at the Alliance’s Istanbul Summit last June.

“My visit is a recognition of the importance the Atlantic Alliance attaches to the strategic position of Jordan in the region and it is a clear demonstration of NATO’s interest in developing a cooperative partnership with this country,” Mr. De Hoop Scheffer said in an interview with the Jordanian daily newspaper Al-Ra’i.

The Secretary General met with King Abdallah II, the Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Foreign Minister Dr. Marwan al-Mouasher, and the Chief of Defense Staff, General Kalid Jamal Sarayreh.

He also gave a speech at the International Affairs Society in Amman, in which he praised Jordan’s role in the Mediterranean Dialogue.

“Ever since Jordan joined the Mediterranean Dialogue back in 1995, it has been a most active participant. This was, quite frankly, no surprise. It reflected Jordan’s determination to contribute to security not just in its own region, but also beyond. And it was in keeping with this country’s most welcome contribution to NATO’s efforts to bring peace to the Balkans,” Mr. De Hoop Scheffer said.