International cooperation in Mali could help make the country an "anchor of stability" in the region, AP cited Germany's defense minister as saying on Friday, urging nations to look at the mission as an example of how improved coordination can have long term benefits. Addressing a gathering of the world's top diplomats and defense officials to open the Munich Security Conference, Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in times of growing cutbacks to military spending, NATO, the European Union, the U.S. and others need to adopt a "strategy of resolute pragmatism" - pooling resources and contributing what they can, when they can. Going forward, de Maiziere said, the mixture of the U.N., NATO and the EU along with cooperation with local and regional forces as the situation dictates "seems to be an approach we might put to more frequent use." -- SPA
