Italy urges Nato, south Europe pact against terror

Italy will propose a pact between Nato and southern Europe against terrorism, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini was quoted as saying.

"Italy will ask the Atlantic Council on March 3 to transform the normal long-distance relationship for security and stability with the Mediterranean countries into a privileged partnership," Mr Frattini told Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview.

"Only by involving the southern countries in a common programme for defence and security can we create the conditions for a stable solution, and especially for a steady action against terrorism," he added.

Mr Frattini said the pact against terrorism would be increasingly needed as the European Union expanded, and could be extended to include Middle Eastern states including Iraq.

"A Europe that grows larger and has security needs that encompass Swedes as much as Cypriots, cannot fail to have in the Mediterranean a strong partnership for security and sustainable development," Mr Frattini said.

The minister said non-Mediterranean countries including Germany agreed with the importance of a southern European pact with Nato against terror.