OFFICIAL NEWS
NATO SUMMIT OPENED IN ISTANBUL
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony.
Opening the meeting, the NATO Secretary General Yaap de Hoop Scheffer welcomed the participants, underlined the importance of the current forum. The Summit is attended by heads of states and governments of 46 countries, in the whole, over 3 thousands representative, he stressed. This is the first forum conducted after enlargement of NATO. 26 are the member-countries of the Alliance. The rest are partner-countries. 3500 media representatives have arrived to cover the work of Summit, he said.
Secretary General noted that conducting of the NATO summit is extremely important form the point of view of ensuring security in the world. The key goal of the event is to discuss the questions connected to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as have exchange of views on combat against international terrorism.
Speaking after the NATO Secretary General, President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer warmly greeted the participants, noted that it is great honor for him to see them in his country, adding that every conditions has been set up for conducting the Summit. He especially stressed the importance of the issues put on the agenda in connection to Iraq and Afghanistan, and combat against international terrorism.
After speech of the President of France Jacques Chirak, the meeting continued behind the closed doors.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is expected to make a speech at the Summit on 29 June.