20 heads of state attend the 51st Munich Security Conference

On February 6, the 51st Munich Security Conference opened in Munich (Germany) with the participation of more than 400 officials, including about 20 heads of state and government, and about 60 foreign ministers and defense ministers of various countries.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine, the rise of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) and the collapse of the global order will be the main topics discussed at the three-day conference (ending on February 8).

Security is tight outside the building where the 51st Munich Security Conference is taking place. (Source: DPA)

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger emphasized that this Conference needs to analyze mistakes and determine the way forward.

"We have a flaw in our security architecture," said Mr. Ischinger. "Last year, IS began to spread in Iraq, but we did not pay attention to it. Also in February 2014, there were protests in Kiev (Ukraine), but no one could have guessed the scale of the crisis."

The conference is expected to discuss many other issues such as dealing with threats from cyberspace, developing the European security structure, and challenges emerging in the Asia-Pacific region.

Established in 1962, the Munich Security Conference is the main forum for exchanging opinions and coordinating the views of political, diplomatic, military and expert circles on the most pressing international issues./.

According to VNA