Baden-Baden, Germany - The NATO summit celebrating the alliance's 60th birthday opened Friday evening in the German resort of Baden-Baden as heads of state and government of the 28 member nations gathered for a concert and dinner.
The concert, by renowned German concert violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, preceded a working dinner at which NATO leaders were expected to tackle the thorny problem of finding a successor to the alliance's outgoing secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
Baden-Baden, Germany - NATO needs to adopt a new vision to cope with the demands of the 21st century, US President Barack Obama said during a visit to Germany on Friday.
"I don't come bearing grand designs," he said ahead of summit marking the alliance's 60th anniversary. "I'm here to listen, to share ideas, and jointly - as one of many NATO allies - to help shape our vision for the future."
Strasbourg, France - A controversial new law reportedly approved by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that makes it illegal for Shiite women to refuse their husbands sex is "extremely alarming and troublesome" for NATO allies, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Friday in the French city of Strasbourg.
Strasbourg, France - While overshadowed by talks about Afghanistan and Russia, France's return to NATO's military command structure is a defining event of the alliance's summit being held Friday and Saturday in France and Germany.
The decision by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to return his country to full NATO membership may not change a great deal for France in practice, since Paris has participated in all NATO conflicts, including the war in Afghanistan.
But it has enormous symbolic significance for the future of the alliance.
Baden-Baden, Germany - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she expected NATO to choose a new secretary general as early as Friday evening.
"We want to establish the succession this evening," Merkel told journalists in Baden-Baden ahead of a meeting in the German city with US President Barack Obama.
Like most other NATO leaders, Merkel supports Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to succeed Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as NATO chief. The Dutchman has said he will leave his post at the end of July.
Copenhagen - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday held meetings with his cabinet and confirmed he was a candidate for new NATO secretary general, Danish media reported.
After the meetings, the premier left for a summit of the defence alliance, but did not met the press.
Rasmussen, who has been premier since 2001, has been mentioned as a favourite to become the new secretary general of NATO. However, Turkey has expressed opposition to his appointment.
Baden-Baden, Germany - The NATO summit celebrating the alliance's 60th birthday opened Friday evening in the German resort of Baden-Baden as heads of state and government of the 28 member nations gathered for a concert and dinner.
Baden-Baden, Germany - NATO needs to adopt a new vision to cope with the demands of the 21st century, US President Barack Obama said during a visit to Germany on Friday.
Strasbourg, France - A controversial new law reportedly approved by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that makes it illegal for Shiite women to refuse their husbands sex is "extremely alarming and troublesome" for NATO allies, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Friday in the French city of Strasbourg.
Strasbourg, France - While overshadowed by talks about Afghanistan and Russia, France's return to NATO's military command structure is a defining event of the alliance's summit being held Friday and Saturday in France and Germany.
Baden-Baden, Germany - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she expected NATO to choose a new secretary general as early as Friday evening.
Copenhagen - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday held meetings with his cabinet and confirmed he was a candidate for new NATO secretary general, Danish media reported.
