NATO, Qatar discuss collaboration

DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- NATO officials agreed to enhance security consultations on all fronts with Qatar, the NATO secretary-general said.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen met with Qatari Crown Prince Tamim Bin-Hamad Bin Khalifah al-Thani and top military officials in Doha.

Rasmussen said the NATO alliance considered Qatar a potential partner in the region as Western allies address a myriad of concerns in the Middle East.

Apart of political upheavals in the Middle East, Western allies are concerned about Iran, looming violence in Iraq and the potential consequences of Hezbollah's growing political influence in Lebanon.

"We are enhancing security policy consultations on all issues that might be of interest to partners," said Rasmussen in a statement. "We are also offering greater practical cooperation by fully opening our toolbox of cooperation projects to all our partners, including the gulf states."

He added there was the "potential" to do more as energy security weighs on the minds of many allies in the region.