On Tuesday, September 16th, 2014, the NATO Information Centre was inaugurated at the Free International University of Moldova.Through this center, scholars and representatives of civil society will have the opportunity to learn about the objectives, roles, institutions, and mechanisms for NATO operations as well as instruments of cooperation between Moldova and NATO. Turkish culture and language can also be studied in this hall.

The project was conducted in collaboration with the Center for Information and Documentation on NATO in the Republic of Moldova; the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA); and the Turkish Embassy in Moldova. The ceremony was attended by ULIM’s administration; officials from the embassies of NATO member states that are accredited in Chisinau; and representatives from the Public Diplomacy Division of NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium.

The event started with the inauguration of the Centre by a traditional ribbon cutting. That was followed by a congratulatory message from the Rector of ULIM, Academician Andrei Galben, who emphasized the importance of the forum in a historical, political, European, and global context.

“I hope that, by launching this NATO Information point at ULIM, we will render a particular connotation to this organization,” Mr. Galben declared. “I am certain that such subdivisions created at ULIM will lead to the building of a better world. I am sure that, as part of society, ULIM will contribute concrete actions to speed up the process of association and adherence of Moldova to the constellation of the European states.”

Mr. Galben also expressed his gratitude to the Turkish Agency for Cooperation and Coordination of the Government of Turkey for financial support in the successful completion of this project. He underlined the important contribution of the Embassy of Turkey in Moldova in this achievement.

Several honored guests then delivered speeches. Mr. Mehmet Selim Kartal, the Turkish Ambassador to Moldova, underlined that “NATO is an organization based on high values ​​such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Today NATO faces new challenges, with constructive forces and destructive forces. We hope, however, that NATO and its partners will help develop a viable dialogue in the Euro-Atlantic area to ensure transparency, mutual trust and the ability to act together.” However, the ambassador emphasized the importance of the Turkish language, mentioning that lately the Turkish language is becoming more popular in Moldova.

Despina Afentouli, Program Officer at the Public Diplomacy Division of NATO Headquarters, wished success to all those who have taken high responsibility to engage in the process of educating the young generation, wishing them many successful decades in defining values ​​for the Euro-Atlantic area.

Ms. Elena Mârzac, Director of the NATO Centre in Moldova, highlighted the success of this important event for ULIM and for CID NATO in Moldova.

The event was concluded with a partnership agreement between ULIM and CID NATO for cooperation in implementing public diplomatic activities and events in the future.

After the official opening ceremony, Mr. Mihai Carp, deputy head of the Crisis Management Section of NATO Operations Division, held a public lecture entitled “NATO Wales Summit Decisions”. He underlined the importance of the Summit in Wales for security of East European states, which was held on September 4-5, 2014.

Referring to decisions made at the NATO summit in Wales, Mihai Carp emphasized that for the Alliance, the most important task is to protect the 28 member states and focus on collective defense. “There were some decisions made in the current context in which we find ourselves. It is a very different context compared to a year ago. We are dealing with problems that did not exist earlier this year or were not so obvious. The decisions made by NATO are a response to these threats.” (See HERE text of the public lecture).

The NATO Information Center is located at the Free International University of Moldova, 7th floor, auditorium 716.