Radio Slovakia International

Afghanistan High on Agenda of NATO Meeting in Bratislava

RSI

The main topic of the informal NATO session that starts on Thursday in the Slovak capital is operation of the international military coalition in Afghanistan. NATO defense ministers will also discuss military funding of individual member states and changes to the U.S. plan to expand the country’s missile defense shield to eastern and central Europe. Defense ministers will also deal with ISAF Commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s request to send more troops to Afghanistan. The Slovak capital Bratislava is for the first time in its history hosting a meeting of the defence ministers of NATO-member states. The informal meeting on October 22-23 is due to be attended by around 800 delegates and 300 journalists.
At this occasion, a handful of Slovak intellectuals signed an initiative “It is Time to Leave, It is Time to Negotiate” call for rejection of the plan to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan.