When addressing the Norwegian Atlantic Committee in Oslo March 3 NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stated, we "strengthen relations with our partners in Caucasus and Central Asia, which are of huge strategic importance." "Today as never before we need to view certain countries and regions through a common transatlantic prism. This is true of Russia and Ukraine, Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as North Africa and the so-called the Great Middle East. Search for ways to encourage positive changes in these different regions and to stimulate democracy and stability should be a joint transatlantic effort, otherwise we will have little chances for success," Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said. The NATO Sec. Gen. said, "we encounter new, complex and really global threats to our security." "We should discuss new approaches to the Great Middle East, Caucasus and other regions and we should enhance our cooperation with other countries and organizations," the Alliance Sec. Gen. said.