Despite two attempted bomb attacks in Istanbul last week, officials at the ADB meeting are confident that delegates are well protected. The conference centre is secured by over 1000 officers, and, additional personnel are stationed in important locations across the city.
"The key issue is always that there is no terrorist attack. That is always in the back of people's minds," says Amarjit Wasan, deputy secretary of the ADB. Every morning Wasan meets with a representative of the police and the Turkish treasury to discuss the security situation.
"Our first principle is that the host country is fully responsible for the security of the meeting," says Wasan. "Turkey was very aware
of this [arrangement]. They have a lot of experience in securing conferences." Six months ago, the Lutfi Kirdar centre (the location of the ADB meeting) hosted a Nato summit without disturbances.
The chief of the meeting's overall police operation is sanguine about any possible threats. "We don't expect any bomb attacks. Everybody is searched at the entrance. There have been security issues in the past, which we take into consideration to take necessary measures." Another officer adds that Istanbul faces the same threats as London or Paris.
But a spokesman at the German consulate in Istanbul disagrees. "The security requirements in Istanbul are different than in other European cities," he says. "The city is a hub for people that could become dangerous. A big event always holds the potential of attracting bad people."
Last week, Istanbul police found two bombs, one planted under a busy bridge crossing the Bosphorus. On Saturday, a bomb exploded in a tourist resort on the Aegean, killing one police officer. A militant Kurdish group claimed responsibility for both and warned European tourists to avoid Turkey.
May 1, traditionally a day of demonstration and unrest, saw only a small protest of about 30 people in front of the Marmara hotel, unrelated to the ADB meeting. "These were protests of illegal organizations with other concerns," says the chief of police.
"People are saying that they feel very secure and comfortable," says Wasan. "All participants have been given an emergency card with one number to call in all cases of discomfort." Wasan plans to make this card a regular feature for all ADB meetings.