MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Israeli President Reuven Rivlin invited on Tuesday NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to visit his country, saying such a visit would strengthen the relations between Israel and the Alliance.
"Secretary General, I would like to take this occasion and to invite you to visit us in Israel. I know your visit would be an important step of strengthening our ties even further and you will be welcomed as an honored guest and a true friend of Israel," Rivlin said after a meeting with Stoltenberg.
The NATO chief, in turn, said he would like to visit the country.
"I very much look forward to visiting Israel and to develop an even closer relationship with Israel," Stoltenberg said.
Israel is a NATO partner through its membership of the Alliance's Mediterranean Dialogue, established in December 1994. In May, NATO gave its consent to Israel to send a permanent envoy to the NATO headquarters in Brussels.