Security measures bring Romanian capital to a halt

Bucharest: The Romanian capital was a city under siege yesterday as it got ready for the opening today of the largest Nato summit since the establishment of the alliance.

Several streets were closed, schools and universities were given days off and even Bucharest's sewers were tightly sealed under the watchful eyes of snipers and thousands of army, security and national guard personnel.

Although the measures proved unpopular with people, a sense of elation that their country was playing host to the world's most powerful leaders was palpable.

"It is a historic day for our nation and we welcome the holding of the Nato summit here. It is a clear indication that we are moving on the right track and we are confident that Romania and ultimately this region of the world will benefit greatly from this landmark event," Constantin, a taxi driver, told Gulf News.

Romanian President Traian Basescu expressed confidence that the summit in Bucharest will "register real progress in implementing a whole set of projects and initiatives of immediate relevance for Nato".

Bridge

"We have the chance of taking essential steps forward in the expansion policy, the energy and cyber security, Alliance partnerships, the Nato role in Afghanistan, the cooperation with other international organisations and the strengthening of military capabilities. It is a chance we have to use in full. The international developments do not offer the luxury of postponements or half hearted measures," he told the media.

"The Bucharest Summit could constitute a bridge between Nato's Euro-Atlantic and international commitments, between our previous achievements and what will have to be done next in view of the anniversary 2009 Summit and the summits that will follow it."

However, most observers believe the three-day summit is bound to deepen divisions between those who support increasing the number of Nato troops in Afghanistan and those who think the 26-member alliance should not play the role of the United Nations.

France and Germany, the core of the "Old Europe" are now at odds over the next moves. While Paris is thinking of increasing its troops in Afghanistan, and of re-joining Nato's military arm, Bonn has not toned down its rejection of calls to increase its troop size and to deploy in the region where Nato forces are battling the Taliban.

Setting the record straight

Nato Secretary-General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the summit would "set the record straight on our mission in Afghanistan".

"We will publish a vision statement that sets out the progress that we have already made, but also defines the challenges that Nato, the international community, and the Afghans themselves will need to overcome," he said.