KUNA takes part in USNATO program for Mideast

The United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (USNATO) is holding a program for Opinion-Makers from the Middle East at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on October 11-12, 2011.ournalists representing different media outlets from across the Middle East and North Africa are taking part in the program, including Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Other countries include Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Lebanon, Algeria and Tunisia.The Bush administration, on January 15, 2004, has designated Kuwait a major non-NATO ally.The administration's decision made Kuwait the second Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state to obtain such a designation. In 2002, the administration deemed Bahrain to be a major non-NATO ally.Participants will have the opportunity to engage in debates and interact with senior officials at NATO and SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe). Issues to be discussed will include NATO's new strategic concept in light of partnership with Middle-Eastern countries, NATO training mission in Iraq, Mediterranean dialogue and NATO's emerging security challenges among other related issues.SHAPE is the Headquarters of Allied Command Operations (ACO), one of NATO's two strategic military commands.