NATO SUMMIT OPENED IN ISTANBUL

PanARMENIAN.Net - 2-day NATO summit, which Secretary General of the Alliance Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has already defined as historical for it is for the first time to be held with the participation of 26 member-states of this military-political organization, opened in Istanbul today. The Armenian delegation headed by foreign minister Vardan Oskanian is representing Armenia at the summit as NATO's partner-state. As reported by Turkish media, the summit participants are expected to focus discussions at the assistance to be rendered to Iraq for the formation of National Security Forces and at the consolidation of NATO troops in Afghanistan. Besides the summit participants will consider relations with the South Caucasian and Central Asian partner-states, struggle against international terrorism and issues of providing security at the Olympic Games in Athens. The other significant resolution to be adopted at the summit is the formal invitation to Croatia, Macedonia and Albania to join the Alliance as well as the determination of the terms and criteria of Georgia's integration to NATO. As reported by Turkish sources, Armenian, Azerbaijani and Turkish foreign ministers are expected to hold negotiations within the frames of the summit. It is not ruled out that they will view the problem of opening the Armenian-Turkish border.