Informing public opinion on Informing public opinion on NATO – guidelines, ways and NATO – guidelines, ways and

means, experiencesmeans, experiences

Erik BaktaiErik Baktai

Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs

Security Policy DepartmentSecurity Policy Department

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Points of DeparturePoints of Departure

What is the purpose of informationWhat is the purpose of information? ? What are the current views on NATOWhat are the current views on NATO?? Who to addressWho to address?? What ways and means to rely onWhat ways and means to rely on?? The Hungarian experienceThe Hungarian experience? ? To what extent can the Hungarian To what extent can the Hungarian

experience be relied onexperience be relied on??

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The purpose: providing The purpose: providing objective, factual and authentic objective, factual and authentic

informationinformation

Authentic information is based on Authentic information is based on facts.facts.

Facts are the best means to remove Facts are the best means to remove misperceptions and prejudicesmisperceptions and prejudices

Avoid any sign of propaganda Avoid any sign of propaganda (whether positive or negative.(whether positive or negative.

Objectivity is required particularly Objectivity is required particularly when relationship with and attitude when relationship with and attitude to NATO are unclearto NATO are unclear

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Main NATO-related topics to Main NATO-related topics to

provide information onprovide information on Circumstances, purpose of NATO’s creation, Circumstances, purpose of NATO’s creation,

structure; Washington Treatystructure; Washington Treaty Main characteristics, results, ways and means Main characteristics, results, ways and means

and successes of NATO’s first forty yearsand successes of NATO’s first forty years NATO’s adaptation to the post-Cold War NATO’s adaptation to the post-Cold War

situation; new challenges, tasks and missionssituation; new challenges, tasks and missions Establishment and development of partnership Establishment and development of partnership

with former adversaries and neutrals.with former adversaries and neutrals. NATO’s enlargement process after Madrid and NATO’s enlargement process after Madrid and

PraguePrague

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Experiences and presentation of Experiences and presentation of the development of Hungarian-the development of Hungarian-

NATO relationsNATO relations

NATO-accession as an important element of the NATO-accession as an important element of the reintegration into the Euro-Atlantic community of reintegration into the Euro-Atlantic community of democratic nations.democratic nations.

Catalyzing role of NATO-accession in the Catalyzing role of NATO-accession in the democratic reform process.democratic reform process.

Indirect linkage between the processes of NATO Indirect linkage between the processes of NATO and EU enlargement; NATO and EU are not and EU enlargement; NATO and EU are not alternatives but mutually complementing alternatives but mutually complementing elements.elements.

Debates on NATO after the change-result: there Debates on NATO after the change-result: there is no alternative to NATO/EU-membership.is no alternative to NATO/EU-membership.

The impact of the NATO accession process of The impact of the NATO accession process of good-neighbourly relations – catalyzing role.good-neighbourly relations – catalyzing role.

Hungary and NATO’s further enlargementHungary and NATO’s further enlargement

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Serbia-Montenegro’s neighbours and Serbia-Montenegro’s neighbours and NATONATO

Development of relations between neighbours Development of relations between neighbours and NATO and their experiences as an example.and NATO and their experiences as an example.

The role of relations with NATO in the policies The role of relations with NATO in the policies of neighbouring countries (endeavours for of neighbouring countries (endeavours for Euro-Atlantic integration).Euro-Atlantic integration).

Relations between NATO and FRY’S neighbours Relations between NATO and FRY’S neighbours – institutional and practical frameworks.– institutional and practical frameworks.

Public opinion of neighbours on NATO; Public opinion of neighbours on NATO; experiences of NATO-related communication, experiences of NATO-related communication, development of p.o.’s attitudedevelopment of p.o.’s attitude

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Views on-post Milosevic Yugoslavia/Serbia-Views on-post Milosevic Yugoslavia/Serbia-Montenegro in NATO as a key elementMontenegro in NATO as a key element

Reaction of NATO and its members to the Reaction of NATO and its members to the democratic changesdemocratic changes

Reaction to foreign and internal policy steps by Reaction to foreign and internal policy steps by post-Milosevic YU/S-M in NATO and its post-Milosevic YU/S-M in NATO and its membersmembers

Major elements of the development of NATO-Major elements of the development of NATO-YU/S-M relations (e.g. Foreign Minister YU/S-M relations (e.g. Foreign Minister Svilanovic’s visit to NATO and participation at Svilanovic’s visit to NATO and participation at the NAC Foreign Ministerial in Budapest).the NAC Foreign Ministerial in Budapest).

Perspectives of the Alliance and the Perspectives of the Alliance and the development of NATO-YU/S-M (position of NAC development of NATO-YU/S-M (position of NAC and member states). and member states).

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Frameworks, techniques and Frameworks, techniques and means of communicatrion on means of communicatrion on

NATONATO

Information on NATO in the printed and Information on NATO in the printed and electronic mediaelectronic media

Brochuers (written by domestic and foreign Brochuers (written by domestic and foreign authors)authors)

Open fora, seminarsOpen fora, seminars NATO’S information programs (for various NATO’S information programs (for various

professional groups)professional groups) Identification target audiences and specific Identification target audiences and specific

techniques to appropriately address themtechniques to appropriately address them

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ConclusionsConclusions

NATO as a durable element of Euro-Atlantic security NATO as a durable element of Euro-Atlantic security remains relevant. Awareness and clarification and remains relevant. Awareness and clarification and attitude towards NATO remain essential.attitude towards NATO remain essential.

Clarification of relations with NATO is an important Clarification of relations with NATO is an important element in identifying the main direction of S-M’s element in identifying the main direction of S-M’s Euro-Atlantic integrationEuro-Atlantic integration

Intentions regarding NATO-S-M relations need to be Intentions regarding NATO-S-M relations need to be clarified by S-M; public opinion is essential to that end.clarified by S-M; public opinion is essential to that end.

Genuine, authentic positions require genuine Genuine, authentic positions require genuine knowledge of objective facts.knowledge of objective facts.