NATO Deputy SecGen Geoana: Alliance is vigilant about effects of Israel conflict

  NATO maintains a sustained diplomatic and political dialogue with all the Middle East countries and is extremely "vigilant" to all the direct and indirect effects of the Israel-Gaza conflict, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana declared on Friday in Brasov."NATO has two direct threats to handle - Russia on the one hand, and terrorism on the other. That is why we stay highly vigilant about the direct and indirect effects of this situation. We hope it doesn't escalate further. Israel has every right to defend its territory and population. Yet at the same time, we must do it proportionally and with due care not to directly or indirectly produce escalation. NATO has many partners in the area - almost all the countries in the region are our partners - that is why myself, NATO's Secretary General and my colleagues maintain a sustained diplomatic and political dialogue with all the countries in the area. Next week we will welcome the King of Jordan at NATO's headquarters, an absolutely vital partner for us in that region. We are in contact with all our partners, we stay highly vigilant, (...) whether it's about Ukraine's war with Russia, in the north, or about developments here, in the south, where we hope that things will calm down and re-enter an avenue of dialogue and diplomatic solutions, it's the only way for achieving stability," Geoana said.NATO's Deputy General Secretary was in Brasov on Friday, where he visited the Command of the 2nd "Sarmizegetusa" Brigade, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Day of Mountain Troops."They are an elite corps who contributed to the creation of Greater Romania, they fought on all frontlines, in the East and in the West, and since Romania joined NATO, they were present in all the operations conducted by the Alliance. Right now, colleagues from this unit are in Kosovo, in Bosnia, and I'm pleased to learn that the UN Security Council decided to extend the European Union's mission in Bosnia. I've come to assure our troops that they have our full respect and support," said the NATO Deputy Secretary General.Mircea Geoana's agenda in Brasov also includes a visit to the 'Henri Coanda' Air Force Academy (AFA), a meeting with representatives of the Brasov business environment, and a speech at the Rethink Summit in Poiana Brasov mountain resort."Brasov is an industrial superpower of the country and I think that even more interesting things can be done in the defense industry. I will also attend the Rethink meeting, because it is good to get in contact with the youth of the country, see how they imagine Romania's future," said Mircea Geoana.