ABSTRACT
NATO’s Mediterranean Initiative launched what was in effect a dialogue focusing on security issues between the governments of states north and south of the Mediterranean. Soon, NATO officials became interested in incorporating other nongovernmental groups into their Mediterranean dialogue. In order to have a better understanding of how effective this initiative may be, one must first be clear about what a dialogue is and what are the preconditions required before a dialogue might commence. Dialogue is an important part of preventive diplomacy, as already noted. It is also an invaluable CBM.
