In the presence of Polish Minister, Mariusz Błaszczak, and Minister of Defense of Slovakia, Peter Gajdoš, the transfer of NATO Counter Intelligence Center of Excellence director duties took place.
On September 30, 2019, the CI COE Director, Colonel Robert Bala, passed on his duties. For the next three years, the directorship will be held by Colonel Martin Achmovič from Slovakia, Col Bala’s former deputy.
– “This is an important date in the history of our cooperation within NATO. The venture that we run together with our friends from Slovakia gets a new shape. US representatives joined us, so together we bring a real value when it comes to the Center of Excellence on counteracting the activities of foreign intelligence services. Together we are stronger,” said Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland’s Minister of National Defense, in Kraków.
In his speech, Minister Błaszczak drew attention to the tasks carried out by the Center and its role in today’s security environment within Poland, Europe, and NATO.
– “Strategies will be forged in the NATO CI COE and there will be opportunities to exchange experience among NATO services. (…) The experience will affect the doctrine for conduct of counterintelligence in Alliance countries,” emphasized Minister Błaszczak. The path of development that the Center has taken over the past three years was also emphasized by the Slovak Minister of Defense in his speech.
– “Three years have now passed since I sent Slovak counterintelligence experts to the Center here in Kraków (…). I know that their task was not easy, however, they and their foreign colleagues were able to build a highly valued, recognized, and accredited NATO unit. Personally, I am confident that the true value of the NATO Counter Intelligence Center of Excellence has yet to be revealed, and will emerge when its implemented products and services have been integrated into Alliance operations,” highlighted Minister Gajdoš.
The last three years were also summed up by the outgoing director Col. Robert Bala.
– “Today, the Centre is fully operational. There are ongoing projects in all the four main areas of our activity. The family of Sponsoring Nations has grown by a new country – the United States of America. (…) Our brand, built from scratch over the past three years, is instantly recognizable across the NATO intelligence and security sector. Therefore, at this point, I can say that my mission as the director of the NATO CI COE is accomplished. However, the mission of the Center is not over. I am sure that my successor will continue this mission with passion and commitment,” Colonel Bala stressed in his speech. The outgoing director also wished good luck to his successor.
Incoming director, Col Martin Achimovič, thanked Col Bala for his work on building and developing the institution and declared that the Center would continue to grow.
– “From this place, I want to make a promise that I will do my best to manage the NATO CI COE using my knowledge and skills, based on the principles of efficiency and following all necessary aspects beneficial to the Center,” Col Achimovič assured in his speech.
– “I consider my nomination to the position of the NATO CI COE Director a great honor and recognition. But I must say it is also a big responsibility (…),” underlined the incoming director. In the further part of his speech, he thanked guests for coming and noted thanks to such a large group of institutions and entities cooperating with the Center, it will continue to grow.
During the ceremony, the US decision to join the Center as a sponsor nation was read. Then the American flag was formally enshrined with the flags of the other sponsoring countries. Mr. Jude Sunderbuch, Executive Director, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, thanked the Polish and Slovak governments for creating the Center and assured that the United States would work together as a partner to “make the Alliance stronger.”
– “I would like to extend our deep appreciation for the Polish and Slovak governments for their leadership and development of the Center. We are here today only thanks to their hard work and the support of other alliance countries,” Mr. Sunderbruch announced.
As of today, the NATO CI COE officially has eleven contributing countries and a new Director.
See also: