RAMALLAH [MENL] -- NATO has completed its first visit to the Palestinian Authority in discussions regarding regional cooperation.

A NATO delegation arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah on June 16 and met PA officials. The delegation, headed by Edward Kronenburg, an aide to secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, was the first that visited the PA.

During the one-day visit, the delegation met PA Foreign Minister Nasser Al Kidwa and chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. Earlier, NATO approved the inclusion of the PA as an observer in the alliance.

"The purpose of this visit was to establish communications with the Palestinian authorities and the other aim of the meeting was to inform the minister about current NATO policies," Kronenburg said. "I think on both counts it's been a successful visit."