Defence Ministry: Entry into NATO building was ‘calm and unproblematic’

“Our entry into the building was calm and without any problems,” Bartłomiej Misiewicz told journalists in Warsaw.

“Under a decision by the ministry, I was appointed as the new plenipotentiary on the NATO centre,” Misiewicz said.

“Our Slovak partners were informed last week that we intend to change the staff of the centre.

“One of my first decisions upon entering the building was to dismiss the security personnel of the building,” Misiewicz said, adding that he had every right to do so.

Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza reported that the people who entered the building at around 1:30 CET Friday were in possession of a duplicate of the key to the building, and it was this that they used to open the front door.

A statement issued by the Defence Ministry said that Misiewicz was merely “introducing” the new acting director to the premises.

“On 18 December, the Plenipotentiary of the Minister of National Defence for Creating the NATO Counter Intelligence Centre of Excellence (NATO CI COE) Bartłomiej Misiewicz introduced new acting director of NATO COE, Col. Robert Bala, to the temporary premises of NATO COE,” the statement read.

Just hours earlier, Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz had appointed Colonel Bala to the post of acting chief of the NATO centre.

NATO strains

Observers have noted that while the centre in Warsaw is not directly operated by NATO, but a training centre operated by military and civilian personnel, such events could strain the relationship between Poland and the military alliance.

Former Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, from the opposition Civic Platform (PO) party, condemned the move, saying, “This is probably the first time in NATO’s history that an alliance member has attacked a NATO facility.” (rg/pk)