NATO defense ministers to meet in Turkey

Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul will host the two-day informal meeting, to be chaired by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, at Istanbul Congress Center.

This will be the first time Turkey will host a NATO meeting since 2004. In June 2004, NATO heads of state and government summit took place in Istanbul.

The informal meeting will bring together defense ministers of 28 NATO member states, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

The main topic of the meeting to be covered by 250 journalists from various countries will be Afghanistan.

Also, participants will discuss NATO's new targets and finance of operations.

Defense ministers will meet over a dinner on Thursday, and debate the recent situation in Afghanistan and the steps to be taken in 2010 with participation of interior and defense ministers of this country.

The financial capacity of NATO will be another topic ministers are expected to debate on the second day of their meeting.

Also, ministers will debate re-writing of a strategic plan, which was last reviewed in 1999 and which does no more meet current needs.

/World Bulletin/