CID NATO and Ministry of Defense Launch an Informative Project for Journalists who Write about National Security and Defense

Chisinau, March 30, 2015 — Over 30 representatives of media institutions from Republic of Moldova and public affairs officers of National Army units participate within March 30-31, in the first stage of the project ,,Capacity building training for journalists: Reflecting security related issues and practical cooperation between NATO and Moldova“.

According to the Director of NATO Information and Documentation Center (CID NATO), Elena Marzac, the journalists are trained by security and defense experts, as well as communication experts of NATO public affairs service.

The source specified that the agenda of the seminar includes topics related to security and defense system in Moldova, public diplomacy and its role in facilitating the communication between NATO and people from Moldova, the role of mass media in covering security issues within the “hybrid war”, as well as the European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes: Ukraine as an example and lessons learned for Republic of Moldova.

Minister of Defense Viorel Cibotaru, who attended the project opening ceremony, appreciated the initiative of CID NATO to organize a training course for journalists specialized in security area. The Minister of Defense emphasized that in a democratic society it is very important to have free and informed media. ,,The Project promotes Republic of Moldova-NATO relationship, , the joint efforts of our authorities, mass media and civil society to implement together the National Security and Defense Information and Communication Strategy , to learn about serious problems of our country that need to be discussed and understood. I hope we can establish a strong relationship between the defense institution, the media and the civil society. I hope to have a trustful dialogue, designed to inform citizens about what we do, the role and the mission of the Ministry of Defense“, Viorel Cibotaru said.

The Project “Capacity building training for journalists: Reflecting security related issues and practical cooperation between NATO and Moldova”, conducted by CID NATO, in partnership with Ministry of Defense, is carried out between March and June 2015 and aims to increase the mass media level of understanding on all security and defense issues of our country.

At the second stage of the project, the journalists will train together with soldiers that will be deployed to KFOR mission.