The First International Conference on Security and Defense begins on Monday in Havana with the participation of experts and academics from 10 countries.

The event, called by the Cuban Center for Studies on Defense Information (CEID), will run through Wednesday with the presence of delegates from Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, France, Sierra Leone and some Asian countries.

Some of the topics to be discussed during the event include security and defense in the Americas; current threats and challenges in a sub- regional, regional and multidimensional approach; and the construction of a new security system in the Americas.

Other topics such as war and peace; armed conflicts; the arms race; illegal trade of conventional weapons; military bases; climate change and its effects; natural disasters; energy resources; and migrations, will also be discussed.

The CEID is a non governmental and non-profit organization founded in September 2001 dedicated to the study and multilateral approach of global problems linked to Cubas national security.

(www.cubanews.ain.cu)