From Emirate News Agency:  H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the UAE, opened the headquarters of the Emirati mission at the Atlantic Alliance (NATO) in the Belgian capital, Brussels, on Friday, the 12th of April in presence of Mohammed Ali Al Naqbi, Head of the UAE Mission at the NATO in Brussels.

His Highness, and the delegation accompanying him, were received by the Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow. . . .

Throughout the years the UAE has contributed to the Atlantic Alliance s efforts to provide security and stability in many regions of the world, such as Afghanistan and Libya.

In addition, the UAE has played a dynamic humanitarian role, especially in Afghanistan, where it supports international efforts to rebuild that country, in order to ensure a better life for its inhabitants, removed from terrorism and destruction. . . . .

A NATO official told WAM that the opening of such a mission is an important event because the UAE is the first partner from the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) to establish an office at NATO headquarters. This is indicative of the UAE s special bilateral relationship with NATO and its strong commitment to strengthen its cooperation with the Alliance. And, most importantly, this decision will permit NATO to expand its cooperation in the context of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. . . .

The UAE is the first Arab and Gulf country to have headquarters at the NATO in Brussels.  (photo: NATO)

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