The German government does not expect to hear demands to it to increase the numerical strength of its contingent in Afghanistan at the NATO summit in Bucharest that is opening on Wednesday. According to Itar-Tass, German government officials noted this on the eve of the meeting at which the German side will be represented by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, Defence Minister Franz-Josef Jung and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Berlin officials noted that 3,250 military of the Bundeswehr are currently staying in Afghanistan. Their activity on the north of the country has been positively assessed.
Besides, the German government has confirmed its negative attitude to the admission of Georgia and Ukraine in the North Atlantic Alliance. Berlin political circles say that Germany does not principally object to joining the NATO entry action plan by these countries, but believes now it is the wrong time.
Spokesman for the German government Ulrich Wilhelm said that in Bucharest Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy intend to put forward a joint initiative to hold the next NATO summit in spring 2009 in the cities-partners Cologne and Strasbourg on the German-French border on the banks of the Rhine River.
This initiative to hold the jubilee summit timed to the 60th anniversary of NATO is called upon to emphasise the importance of German-French friendship and the role of the Alliance for the preservation of peace in Europe.
