NEWS

NATO Summit opens in Chicago

NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, today opened the NATO Summit in Chicago. The summit will conclude on Monday; the NATO Heads of State and Government will discuss the changing security situation in the 21st century from various perspectives, but also in light of the fact that a balance between national budgets and the commitments undertaken within the alliance must be sought during the economic crisis. They will also discuss cooperation with their partners and the important topic of the alliance's mission in Afghanistan.

 

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, is also attending the summit and held several bilateral meetings before its opening.

The summit hosts the leaders of NATO's 28 member states, its partners and key ally states, including the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, and the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari. Besides NATO members, the summit will also be attended by representatives from several other countries and international organisations: the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the European Council, the Australian leader, and leaders from other countries. In view of the large number of countries and international organisations taking part, Prime Minister Janez Janša called the summit a "global meeting on world peace".