NATO Officials Meet on Security Policy

NATO officials are gathering in Germay for theirwill be the presence of the Russian president, Vladimir
annual conference on security policy, which bringsPutin," he said. "He is going to talk about Russia's
together high level defense officials from all theengagement with the outside world, with NATO, the
NATO member states, as well as representativesinternational community and he is going to talk about
from other countries. One of the highlights of thisenergy."
year's conference will be an address by RussianHunter says it is important to engage Russia and
President Vladimir Putin. VOA's Ivana Kuhar reportsChina as positive forces in the creation of global
from Munich.stability.
More than 250 high-ranking participants from about"[One of the] big issues in the world right now -
40 nations are gathering in Munich's Bayerischer Hofoutside of the Middle East - is to draw Russia
hotel to discuss security challenges around the world.productively into the outside world and to draw China
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will address theproductively into the outside world, rather than either
conference, as will U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert- or both - of these countries going their separate
Gates, who will deliver his first major internationalway," he said.
speech since assuming the top defense post at theAlong with drawing many top officials from around
Pentagon.the world, the annual security conference often
Robert Hunter, a former U.S. Ambassador to NATO,attracts protesters and this year is no different.
says one of the most anticipated events at thePolice say they are expecting about 3,500
conference will be a scheduled speech by the Russiandemonstrators to converge on Munich to protest
President Vladimir Putin.war in Iraq.
"I think the most important thing, if it does come off,