NATO and Egypt agree on cooperation programme

BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (Reuters) NATO and Egypt agreed today on a cooperation programme to strengthen political and military ties, the 26-nation alliance said.

''The Individual Cooperation Programme ... aims at promoting political and military ties with the Euro-Atlantic and the Mediterranean regions along with security cooperation ...'' NATO said in the statement.

Following the end of the Cold War, NATO has tried to bolster its presence in the Middle East. Results have been patchy, however, with many in the Arab world regarding it as a US-dominated organisation intent on interfering.

NATO has ties with Israel, Algeria, Egypt, Mauritania, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia under what it calls the Mediterranean Dialogue.

Reuters PDT VP0006