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Security has been a widely debated issue in connection with the NATO summit. The summit organizers expected up to 12,000 anti-NATO demonstrators in the streets of Prague, and the Interior Ministry has made considerable effort to prevent riots such as those Prague witnessed during the IMF and World Bank meeting in 2000. 12,000 policemen and over 4,000 soldiers have been deployed in the streets to keep the situation under control in what is the country's biggest ever security operation. Rob Cameron is covering the situation in the streets of the

As NATO leaders discuss future security challenges, young people who will live with the legacy of those decisions hold their own summit in Prague. Two hundred undergraduate students from all around the world are taking part is what is called the Prague Atlantic Student Summit. Ian Willoughby talked to one of the delegates for the Czech Republic, Zuzana Vanysova.

Although Russia had previously toned down its strong opposition to the inclusion of the Baltic states that once were part of the Soviet Union, its officials have been voicing concern about NATO's border getting so close. However, Russians stand has not thrown a damper on celebrations in all the seven east European states invited to join NATO.

At a ceremony on Wednesday held at Prague Castle prior to the opening of the NATO summit in Prague, Czech president Vaclav Havel was honoured by 19 heads of state for his contribution as a dissident in Communist Czechoslovakia. The statesmen also praised his commitment to peace and democracy following the Velvet Revolution in 1989.

These days, many conferences and roundtables are being held in Prague alongside the NATO summit in order to highlight different perspectives on NATO. One of the first took place last week and was organised by the Forum 2000 committee, the topic being "The Role and Responsibility of NATO after Enlargement."

Guests for the NATO summit are arriving in Prague, and the first of foreign presidents was George W. Bush, whose presidential special landed at Ruzyne airport on Tuesday evening. Alena Skodova reports:

There's a new art installation that has caught every body's attention in Prague - a giant red neon heart by renowned Czech artist Jiri David. Installed over Prague Castle, it's visible on the skyline from just about everywhere. The work is the second in a series of what Jiri David calls "contextual" art objects to decorate well-know sites in the city: last year a large neon crown of thorns decorated Prague's Rudolfinum Palace. In general, both installations have evoked positive reactions. The country's president, Vaclav Havel, was certainly pleased

NATO Secretary General George Robertson has said the Prague Summit will be a turning point for NATO. According to Lord Robertson, new members, new missions and new military capabilities will transform the alliance; he says that while enlargement is high on the agenda, it should not obscure the most important tasks facing the alliance.

Only hours remain until the start of the NATO summit here in Prague. Preparations are in their final stages as the Czech capital awaits dozens of world leaders, thousands of official delegates and journalists but also thousands of protesters. The importance of the summit for Prague and the Czech Republic has been pointed out many times. But what do we know about the significance of the summit for NATO itself? And what will actually be on its agenda, apart from expansion and the question of Iraq? NATO spokesman Yves Brodeur explains.

Over the weekend Prague played host to the 12th international fair of languages, culture and education, called Student-Expo-Lingua. Presenting themselves were schools and agencies that provide services in the sphere of education. Alena Skodova went there and brings back this report: