Dichter and counterpart to work out final agreement to fight terror, crime and increase border security.
By REBECCA ANNA STOILavi dichter 224.88(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
In a further step toward security cooperation between Canada and Israel, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter met Monday in Toronto with his Canadian counterpart, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Stockwell Day. Following the meeting, Dichter and Day announced that they would accelerate negotiations toward the signing of a mutual cooperation agreement on homeland security.
The two signed an interim agreement through which, in the upcoming week, three teams will be established to enable cooperation in the fields of combating terror, fighting crime, and border security. Later, the two ministries will work to iron out details involving the final cooperation agreement, culminating in the signing of a joint agreement.
During the Toronto meeting, Dichter and Day exchanged updates on matters of mutual interest and sought to identify methods to improve the implementation of the bilateral cooperation between the two ministries. They also agreed to
work to identify options for direct communication in order to maximize the
exchange of information, technology and operational activity.
The two also reviewed the activities of parallel ministry bodies in terms of both administrative management as well as local activity in confronting homeland security issues.
Dichter has been on an official visit to the United States and Canada since last week, during which he met with US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, as well as US Marshalls Service head John Clark, with whom he discussed Israel's nascent witness protection program.
During his stay in the US, the Kadima minister has also been active in helping to lay the groundwork for the upcoming Annapolis summit as well as addressing the annual convention of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs
Committee).
