IOM and NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied
Powers, Europe (SHAPE) have signed an agreement to increase
cooperation in natural disasters, complex emergencies and post
conflict environments.

The agreement, which was signed by the Supreme
Allied Commander, Europe, General James L. Jones and IOM Director
General Brunson McKinley, paves the way for an increased exchange
of information and expertise at planning and operational levels to
improve the capacity of both organizations to respond in times of
humanitarian emergencies.

"NATO's logistical capacity and expertise can
make a big difference when it comes to providing urgently needed
humanitarian assistance to victims of natural disasters, as was the
case last year in Pakistan and in tsunami affected areas," said
Brunson McKinley. "But NATO's experience goes far beyond
emergencies. It includes expertise in post conflict environments as
shown in the Province of Kosovo where in 1999, IOM and NATO worked
closely together to successfully transform the former Kosovo
Liberation Army into a civilian agency, the Kosovo Protection
Corps."

Under the agreement, IOM can provide technical
assistance during the planning and conduct of NATO exercises
relating to humanitarian emergencies.

For further information, please contact:

Pasquale Lupoli

IOM Director

Operations Support Department

Tel: + 41 22 717 9379

Email: "mailto:plupoli@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">plupoli@iom.int