Another recommendation was that NATO should form panels on issues or
regions. One agreement should be with the GCC and focus on missile defense.
"NATO should recognize territorial missile defence as an essential
mission of the alliance," the report said. "To that end, NATO should agree
to expand its Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence System to
provide the core command and control capability of a NATO territorial
missile defence system."
"The dialogue provides a framework for confidence building, transparency
and cooperation," the 55-page report said. "Although it is the only
functioning region-wide security initiative, its accomplishments to date are
modest."
The report asserted that NATO's success in the Middle East remained
marginal despite the importance of the region. The Middle East has been
regarded as vital in such areas as weapons proliferation and missile
defense.
"The present MD [Mediterranean Dialogue] formula remains workable, but
should be flexible enough to allow any country that desires to deepen its
partnership with NATO to do so," the report said.
The report cited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the resolution of
which has been led by the United States. The authors recommended that NATO
should be ready to help implement any peace accord.
"NATO is strongly supportive of efforts to negotiate a just and lasting
peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but does not play an active
diplomatic role," the report said. "The alliance
has, however, expressed a willingness to assist in implementing an agreement
should one be reached, provided that is requested by the parties and
authorized by the UN Security Council."
The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, launched in 2004, has recruited
several Gulf Cooperation Council states, including Bahrain, Kuwait and the
United Arab Emirates. The report said the initiative has fallen short of
expectations in efforts to battle WMD and Al Qaida.
"Although potentially valuable, the ICI has been held back by a lack of
common strategic vision and by rivalries among the partners and some
allies," the report said. "Nonetheless, like the MD, the ICI is helping to
build needed security relationships and to open channels for regular
dialogue."
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