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. Approximately 2,000 people took part in organising the event and local people will have to expect a large number of security measures and traffic restrictions.

The meeting will be chaired for the first time by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fough Rasmussen, who delivered a speech in the morning at a security conference entitled 'New Challenges - Better Capabilities' (NCBC), which is accompanying the informal meeting.

The NCBC conference has been organised by the Slovak Atlantic Commission (SAC) with support from the Slovak Defence Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and NATO's Public Diplomacy Division. Rasmussen on the same day will meet Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic and Prime Minister Robert Fico.

A cultural programme will be put on for the delegates in the new building of the Slovak National Theatre. Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Baska, Fico and Rasmussen will make speeches there as well.

(TASR, SLOVAKIA TODAY / TASR PHOTO)