"Munich Davos for security problems” opens in Germany

A “Munich Davos for security problems” is to open in Germany today. The world elite, dealing with different aspects of the security policy, has been annually gathering for the forum for several years already.

Search for new ways in the struggle with international terrorism and attitude towards Iraq are to be the key problem for discussion at the 38th international conference this year. The Russian delegation is headed by Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov. The delegation also consists of military experts and Duma Deputies Andrey Nikolayev and Dmitry Rogozin. Sergey Ivanov is expected to deliver a report on the problems of military resistance to the international terrorism. Besides, representatives of over 30 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA are to come to the conference.

It is reported, the police of Bavaria is taking unprecedented measures to guarantee security during the forum; about 3,000 policemen will be involved into it. It has been published already, representatives of the left-wing forces and anti-globalists from all NATO countries (about 2-3 thousand people in total) have promised to organize an action similar to that one in Genoa during this conference in Munich. Bavaria’s Internal Ministry told, this would not be allowed.

As for the relations between Russia and NATO, a new format will be started by May: this will mean a new “20 format” instead of the standing Russia-NATO council. NATO Secretary General George Robertson says, “it will be probably announced at the meeting of NATO ministers in Reykjavik in May.” Mr.Robertson is to continue discussion of the new level of relations with Russia during the meeting with Sergey Ivanov in Munich.

Besides, NMD security strategy of the USA, elections in France and Germany, NATO expansion are to be also touched upon at the meeting. Special attention of the conference will be paid to security problems in the Central Asiatic region, for this purpose representatives of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have been invited for the conference in Munich.

Sergey Yugov PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Maria Gousseva

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2002/02/01/36432.html