POWELL: STRATEGIC SCOPE OF PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE SHOULD EXPAND

REYKJAVIK/ZAGREB, May 15 (Hina)- US State Secretary Colin Powell on Wednesday stated that co-operation between NATO and members of the Partnership for Peace (PFP) should be strengthened and raised to a higher level in order to expand the strategic scope of the programme. #L# Many NATO partners are faced with the same threats on the front lines as their allies: terrorism and regional instability, Powell said at a meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) in Reykjavik. Our collective defence demands a stronger PFP. We need to come to a decision in Prague that will expand the strategic scope of the Partnership, Powell emphasised. This is an important year for NATO because of the redefinition of relations with Russia and the announced expansion, Powell said adding that 2002 should be a year for adaptation for Alliance partners. The US State Secretary noted that changes in the PFP should be directed towards modernisation and a more flexible approach to security priorities of each members particularly those in Central Asia and the Caucasus and Southeast Europe. The main objective of the changes is to raise co-operation with partners to a new level along with strengthening political consultations and military cooperation, Powell said. He added that this would raise the capability of partners to resolve key security issues, raise inter-operability within NATO and expand anti- terrorist cooperation. (hina) lml sb