In addition to the exhibition itself, the provisional programme of meetings at this June's ILA can boast more than 60 separate events. Among the subjects covered will be the east/west dialogue. ILA's organisers report a 25 per cent increase in Russia's participation compared with ILA '98, while Uzbekistan will be represented for the first time.\r"Efforts to encourage an east-west dialogue will again be supported by the ILA in the form of the east-west aerospace centre (EWAC). This is intended as a platform for international workshops and market research," said a spokesperson for the conference.\rILA has also given some indication of the themes which might take centre stage at this year's European conference. Said a spokesperson for ILA: "The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), formed by a merger between DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA), Aerospatiale-Matra and CASA, is currently taking shape. Other dominant themes will be programmes like the mega-airliner, the Airbus A3XX, and the plans for a new European transport aircraft."\rFour days of the event, held in Berlin, are designated for trade visitors, and sources say that bookings are in excess of those received at this time in 1998.