BUDAPEST, Oct 7, 2008 (AFP) - NATO ministers will lay out the alliance's future strategy at an informal meeting in Budapest this week, ahead of a critical 2009 summit, Defence Minister Imre Szekeres said Tuesday.

The Budapest meeting on Thursday and Friday of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was 'one of the most important events in preparation for the 60th anniversary summit next year,' Szekeres told parliament, citing a letter from NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

'NATO's new strategy will be adopted during the next summit, so one of the key elements of the Budapest meeting will be to work out the new concept on how to respond to the challenges of the 21st century,' Szekeres added.

With 41 country delegations descending on the Hungarian capital, comprising 700 diplomats and trailed by more than 300 journalists, strict security measures are already being put in place.

Some 300 police officers will be on duty in the city centre, which will be practically inaccessible for two days. Parking has already been banned in parts of downtown Budapest.

The government has recommended that drivers avoid midtown and a primary school located near the defence ministry will even be shuttered during the talks. Access to the airport will also be restricted.

Apart from the official NATO programme, which will include talks on Russia and Afghanistan, Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Scheffer as well as US Secretary of State Robert Gates.

Hungary joined NATO in 1999.