Iraq, global terrorism dominate Prague assembly of NATO parliamentarians

PRAGUE (AFP) May 25, 2003
The Iraq crisis and its impact on the North Atlantic Alliance, together with the threat of international terrorism, were set to dominate a spring session of NATO's parliamentary assembly opening here Monday.

NATO Secretary-General George Robertson was scheduled to address the gathering of members of the alliance's parliaments.

The plenary session was preceded Sunday by committee sessions.

Robertson was also set to meet Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda and Defence Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik.

The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999.

NATO was seriously split by a crisis over Iraq sparked by three anti-war member-states -- France, Germany and Belgium -- over whether the Alliance should boost NATO member Turkey's defences in preparation for the war.

The NATO parliamentary assembly links more than 200 lawmakers from the alliance's 19 members together with associated states including Russia, meeting in full session twice yearly.

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