NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) plans to dramatically increase its co-operation with the Gulf countries, one of its officials said yesterday. Head of the Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Co-operation Initiative countries section Nicola de Santis said the Belgium-based organisation hopes to reproduce the peace and stability that it has helped create in Europe since its foundation in 1949.

Mr De Santis said there seemed to be an outdated image of Nato and its objectives in the Middle East, but insisted the organisation was not controlled by America and was only interested in creating a secure environment.

He made the comments during the first event Nato has held in Bahrain.

"We are here to offer the hand of friendship to the countries of the region, based on the approach we adopted in Europe after the Cold War," he said.

"This is a new Nato which is trying to stress that in today's fast changing world we need each other.

"No one nation can deal with the complex security challenges alone.

"We are ready if countries want to engage with us.

"Our policy is non-discrimination and our offer is the same to all the countries."

He made the comments during the opening ceremony of a two-day conference discussing media issues concerning security challenges in the Gulf.

Ambassadors, academics, civil society organisations, security officials and journalists from across the region attended the event at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa.

Media in a Changing World: Perspectives from GCC and Nato has been jointly organised by the Information Ministry and Nato division of Public Diplomacy.

Mr De Santis was speaking during a discussion about Nato and Gulf security in the new strategic environment.

He said areas of future co-operation between Nato and the GCC could be intelligence sharing and border security.

He pointed to the success of the Mediterranean Dialogue, launched in 1994 to contribute to regional security and stability and achieve mutual understanding, whose members include Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritania.

Nato is an alliance of 26 countries from North America and Europe committed to fulfilling the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty, which was signed on April 4 1949.

It brings together the armies of various countries, including the UK and the US, and was formed after the end of the Second World War.

The stated aim of Nato is to prevent conflict between member countries and work for world peace. geoff@gdn.com.bh