The NATO summit in Strasbourg began with a minute of silence for people who had been killed on behalf of NATO. After that, French President Nicolas Sarkozy held a speech. 

He said the summit was taking place in Germany and France to show that these two countries ensure peace and security together.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that Afghanistan is NATO’s biggest challenge.

We must define our goals and periodically determine what has been achieved, Merkel said. NATO’s Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, welcomed the two new members of the organisation, Albania and Croatia.

You have definitely deserved your place at this table and I congratulate you on that, he said.

U.S. President Barack Obama stressed that Croatia and Albania have already done a lot on behalf of the Alliance, alluding to soldiers taking part in peace missions.

- We are proud to have you as allies – Obama stressed, after which he handed a copy of the Washington Agreement to Croatia’s President Stjepan Mesic.

Leaders of NATO member countries were greeted on the German side of the Rhine River by Chancellor Angela Merkel, while on the French side, they were greeted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

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