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| PREPARATIONS FOR THE NATO SUMMIT IN BUCHAREST 18/03/2008 |
| (2008-03-18) |
| Last updated: 2008-03-19 20:15 EET |
Authorities in Bucharest are already up to their neck in work, two weeks ahead of the NATO Summit due early this April. Which is quite natural, given that, according to State Secretary at the Foreign Ministry Victor Micula, the master of ceremony for the meeting, the Summit is both the largest event ever held in Romania, and the largest meeting in the history of the Alliance. So far 24 heads of state, 26 prime ministers and 87 ministers have confirmed their presence in Bucharest. In all, Bucharest will host some 3,000 delegates and 3,500 journalists.
Just like with the Francophony Summit in September 2006, the city, overcrowded as it were, will be virtually divided into halves. Official delegations will travel through a single corridor, which will accommodate hundreds of cars, buses and limos. Micula promises that security will not be a problem. Since last week, police and special service officers have been conducting drills which take into account any potential threat. As for the actual agenda, Micula explains
“The Summit begins on the evening of April 2nd, with a working dinner; in the morning of April 3rd we have the North-Atlantic Council meeting, at noon the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council , later that afternoon the 26 plus N meeting focusing on Afghanistan. On April 4th, the NATO-Ukraine Commission session is kicking off in the morning, then at noon the NATO-Russia Council is getting together. President Putin will very likely be in Bucharest, although there have been no guarantees so far.”
But judging by the excitement in Neptun resort, on the Black Sea coast, the arrival of the Kremlin leader is almost certain. The resort is being sifted through. Because it is not only to host top-level Romanian – American talks, but also, on the eve of the Summit, a farewell meeting of Putin and his American counterpart George W. Bush, both of them preparing to hand over their presidential mandates. The media reports that a security command centre has already been established in Neptun, similar to the one in Bucharest.
The air and sea space will be closed for traffic, and the military vessels which will patrol the area will be equipped with war ammunition. As for the political spin-off of the Summit, Romanian Minister of Defence Teodor Melescanu has voiced his confidence that this will be a milestone in the history of the Alliance. According to analysts, Bucharest may be a key landmark for enlargement towards the West Balkans, where Croatia, Albania and Macedonia are waiting for a verdict on their admission applications, and the ex-Soviet space, where Ukraine and Georgia are in their turn hoping to see accession negotiations launched.
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2025-04-03
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