17. 01. 2008
Today, Robert SIMMONS, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Security Cooperation and Partnership and special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia has visited Center NATO in Chisinau.
In the framework of this visit NATO Center organized a round table with the topic “Partnership NATO – Republic of Moldova. Role of IPAP in national security consolidation.”
For me this Action Plan regarding NATO is an unknown subject and it was very interesting to hear opinion of Mr. Robert SIMMONS and view of Eugenia KISTRUGA, vice-minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.
First of all there was a mini press-conference where representative of NATO and representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova made a short speech about IPAP and its implementation in Moldova. Whereupon followed a round table with discussions and exchange of opinions. The round table was held by the Chatham House Rule. Today this was for the first time I heard this notion and I will share with you this concept.
The Chatham House Rule is a rule that governs the confidentiality of the source of information received at a meeting. When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.
In other words journalists were asked to stop recording what was said on the round table, they could make notes, but not quote speakers or mention their names.
That was time for sincere discussions about IPAP, its implementation and about governance of the Republic of Moldova in general. This was time to criticize our government (and that was done). Some participants stated that Moldova signed IPAP (Individual Partnership Action Plan) and Action Plan RM-EU but is not implementing stated conditions, which mean that government of Moldova does not want integration in European Union, nor NATO integration, but this paper signings mean they will gain more money that will be distributed “properly”.
There were a lot of deviations from the stated subject, this showed that people are not familiar with the topic. IPAP and NATO subjects are not discussed openly in mass-media or elsewhere (hope this will be changed).
A cocktail followed after this round table, I heard a statement somewhere before that the most important decisions are taken during the cocktails. This cocktail gave me an opportunity to meet very good people. I met Counsellor Minister of the Lithuanian Embassy, Ms. Loreta Zakareviciene, Counsellor of the Hungarian Embassy, Mr. Botond Zakonyi and learned that in Chisinau there is a University of European Political and Economical Studies.
After the cocktail by chance I had an opportunity to walk a little with Mr. Botond Zakonyi, we had a small informal conversation, counsellor appeared to be very friendly and open-minded person. I invited him to our European Club to talk about Hungary in times of European Integration.
P.S. Most of all I adore such kind of events for the chance to meet new and very interesting people.
Hi Nadejda! Great blog. I enjoy meeting new people at those types of networking events as well – and the same holds true in the U.S. in regards to many important decisions being made over cocktails.
Being a good networker can really help you in life. I have seen a lot of opportunities based on who someone knows, rather than what they know. I read a statistic in the US that over 75% of jobs are never posted by employers. That seems amazing to me, but I believe it. People who have the initiative and drive to network and even stop in randomly at a business and ask to speak with a manager and make a positive impression.
Great blog – I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Talk to you soon!
Rick