Secretaries of delegations
079 SD 06 E
Original: English
NATO Parliamentary Assembly
MINUTES
of the meeting of the Secretaries of Delegations
Friday 24 March 2006
Gdynia Naval Academy
Gdynia, Poland
International Secretariat                                                                                                      March 2006
ATTENDANCE LIST
Chairperson                                                    Natalia Jaskiewicz
Deputy Secretary General                            David Hobbs
Deputy to the Secretary General for           Andrea Cellino
Partnerships and External Relations         Â
Head, Conference Service                           Gill Rawling
Secretaries of the Delegations
Belgium                                                             Frans Van Melkebeke
Bulgaria                                                             Borislav Penchev
Canada                                                             Denis Robert
Czech Republic                                                Olga Bendikova (Chamber of Deputies)
Denmark                                                           Morten Roland Hansen
Estonia                                                              Tanja Espe
France                                                               Frédéric Taillet (National Assembly)
Hungary                                                             Károly Tüzes
Iceland                                                               Stigur Stefansson
Italy                                                                    Mario Napoli (Chamber of Deputies)
Latvia                                                                 Sandra Paura
Lithuania                                                            Snieguole Ziukaite
Netherlands                                                       Leo van Waasbergen
Norway                                                              Margit Gjelten
Portugal                                                             LuÃsa Pinto Basto
Romania                                                           Irina Bojin (House Of Deputies)
Slovakia                                                             Jarmila Nováková
Slovenia                                                            Tamara Gruden-Pecan
Spain                                                                 Mercedes Araujo
Turkey                                                               Yesim Uslu
United Kingdom                                                Libby Davidson
Accompanying the delegations                   Â
Germany                                                           Johannes von AhlefeldtÂ
Spain                                                                 Araceli Quintano
Polish Secretariat                                                Â
                                                                         Mikolaj Karlowski                                        Â
                                                                          Karolina Glowacka
                                                                                                        Â
International Secretariat                               Helen Cadwallender
                                                                          Christine Heffinck
                                                                          Helena Hradilova
                                                                          Susan Millar
                                                                          Â
1.      Opening of the proceedings
The meeting opened at 18.30 p.m. with Natalia Jaskiewicz, Secretary of the Polish delegation, in the Chair.
Ms Jaskiewicz (PL) welcomed colleagues to Gdynia, Poland, and introduced her Polish colleagues, Ms Karolina Glowacka, Mr Michal Makowka and Mr Karlowski, the former Secretary of the Polish Delegation, to participants.
Mr Hobbs (NATO PA) welcomed the participants to Gdynia on behalf of the International Secretariat and thanked Mr Karlowski for providing the International Secretariat with such an efficient successor in Ms Jaskiewicz.
Ms Rawling (NATO PA) introduced the new Secretaries of Member Delegations: Mr Stigur Stefansson (IS) and Ms Margit Gjelten (NO).
2.      Adoption of the Draft Agenda [053 SD 06 E]
The draft Agenda [053 SD 06 E] was adopted.
3.     Adoption of the Minutes of the meeting of the Secretaries of Delegations held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Friday 11 November 2005 [235 SD 05 E]
The Minutes [235 SD 05 E] were adopted.
4.      Programme of the meetings in Gdynia [031 SC 06 E Rev.1]
Ms Jaskiewicz (PL) gave details of the social programme and transportation during the meeting.
5. Consideration of the Draft Agenda of the Standing Committee meeting
  [040 SC 06 E Rev. 1] Â
The draft Agenda was noted.
6.     Preparation of the Spring Session in Paris, France, from 26 to 30 May 2006Â
Draft Programme [020 SESP 06 E]
General Information [005 SESP 06 E]
Programme for Accompanying Persons [037 SESP 06 E]
Mr Taillet (FR) provided details of the forthcoming Spring Session in Paris in May.
He drew attention to the fact that those arriving in time to attend the 1st plenary sitting may not have access to their hotel rooms before the meetings. However, he gave assurance that luggage would be taken care of.Â
He gave details of speakers at the two plenary sittings. In addition to those already appearing on the programme would almost certainly be the Minister of Defense Michèle Alliot-Marie on Friday 26 May. Mr Milinkevich, leader of the Belorussian opposition would also be invited. The programme and order of events for the plenary taking place on Tuesday 30 May was not yet definitive. The discussions would focus on the Caucasus.Â
He gave details on visits organised for the committees to three key military and civil bases: Lille, site of Rapid Reaction Forces; Brest: a naval base where nuclear submarines are usually based (although not during the visit); Satory, close to Versailles: a civil protection base. The visits will take place on the days when the committees are not meeting. Secretaries will be informed of all details and how to register within six weeks of the session.Â
He then gave information on the venues and arrangements for the dinners, reception for all participants and the excursion organised during the session.
Mr van Waasbergen (NL) enquired why the Secretary General of NATO did not appear as a speaker during the 2nd plenary sitting.
Mr Taillet replied that this was because Mr de Hoop Scheffer is part of the North Atlantic Council.Â
Ms Davidson (UK) raised a question concerning the strict cancellation policy of the hotels.
Mr Taillet would try to resolve the problem.Â
Mr Napoli (IT) enquired why the three Caucasian presidents were not speaking on the same day.
Mr Taillet replied that this it had not been possible to find a time when all three could appear together.
7. Preparation of the Annual Session in Quebec, Canada, from 13 to 17 November 2006Â Draft Programme [052 SESA 06 E]
Mr Robert (CA) informed participants of the progress being made with the organisation of the Autumn Session in Canada in November 2006, and drew attention specifically to the fact that official transportation would not be available from Montreal airport, advising participants to organise flights directly to Quebec City. He advised Secretaries of Delegation to arrive the day before their meeting in November as flights the same day would not enable them to arrive in time to attend.
One hotel, the Château Frontenac, has been selected for all participants, with very favourable rates.
Emphasis was also placed upon the fact that Quebec would be a non-smoking province as of May 2006, after which smoking would be banned in all public areas.
Mr Taillet (FR) noted that Members participating in the NATO-Russia Council meetings would also be advised to take flights ensuring their arrival the day before their meetings.
8. Preparation of Future Sessions and Meetings [024 GEN 06 E]
Â
- Standing Committee Meeting, Budapest, Hungary, from 23 to 25 March 2007
- Spring Session, Madeira, Portugal, from 25 to 29 May 2007
- Annual Session, Reykjavik, Iceland, 5 to 9 October 2007
- Meetings in 2008, 2009 and 2010
Mr Tuzes (HU), Ms Pinto Basto (PT) and Mr Stefansson (IS) provided basic information on the preparations of future meetings or sessions in their respective countries, indicating that further details would be available at the Spring Session in Paris.
9.     Liaison between Delegations and the International Secretariat
Ms Jaskiewicz (PL) asked if anyone wished to raise any points. None was raised.
The meeting closed at 19.30 p.m.
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