16 September 2016, a meeting of the Minister of information policy of Ukraine Yurii Stets, Deputy Minister Artem Bidenko, Advisor to the Minister on strategic communications Alina Frolova, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Ambassador Tacan Ildem, Head of NATO Liaison Office Oleksandr Vinnykov, Director of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre in Ukraine Natalia Nemylivska was held.
The main topics for discussion were the development of the state strategic communications’ system in Ukraine, progress in implementing the Strategic Communications Partnership Road Map between NATO and Ukraine and joint efforts to counter modern information challenges.
According to the Minister of information policy Yurii Stets, our state is at the forefront of information hybrid war launched by Russia: “A large-scale manipulation of public opinion from Russia is in the process. We are at the information forefront of a hybrid war. We must effectively counter misinformation and rebuild our own history. That is why today the development of state communications and information environment is one of the most important tasks of the Ukrainian authorities”.
Tacan Ildem noted that assistance in the development of strategic communications is a priority in the NATO work in Ukraine, as the communication function is a component of establishing public policy: the ability of government to build and maintain a dialogue with the community and partners ensures stable development of the state, contributes to its security.
“Ukraine is a strategic partner of NATO and we try to provide strategic support. In order to tell the truth to the public we have to find answers to new information challenges together and give the opportunity to the development of strategic communications”, – said the Ambassador. He also stressed the importance of the existence of MIP as the state body responsible for the development of the information sector, and drew attention to the general approach to the handling of information of MIP and NATO, which is reflected in the slogan MIP “The best counter-propaganda is the truth”.
Alina Frolova, Advisor to the Minister on strategic communications: “If earlier in the field of strategic communications we had need of advice, today we need the practical participation of partners. Ukraine has a roadmap and formed priority projects in its framework. We have made significant steps towards the implementation of the system, and the next year should be the year of the first visible results. The partners’ assistance is becoming more important. We appreciate the support that NATO and the Public diplomacy department in particular, in the implementation of such ambitious projects.”
In conclusion, Mr. Ildem invited the Minister to make an official visit to the NATO headquarters, where, in particular, will be the opportunity to discuss further steps towards the practical implementation of the Strategic Communications Partnership Road Map.
