NATO summit: Afghanistan to top agenda

BUCHAREST, April 1 (Xinhua) -- NATO's peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan will top the agenda of the alliance's summit in Bucharest this week, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Tuesday.

Afghanistan's reconstruction needs the support from the international community and NATO still pays attention to the country, Scheffer said after a meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu.

He said NATO members will discuss the alliance's operation in Afghanistan and issues related to the International Security Assistance Force at a high-level meeting during the summit.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonand European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso are invited to the meeting, Scheffer said.

Heads of state and government of the 26 NATO members will meet here for a summit from Wednesday to Friday.

During the three-day meeting, NATO leaders are also expected to discuss the enlargement of the alliance, missile defense, cyber defense and the protection of energy supply lines.