2007 Events

Iraqi Delegation Benefits from Slovak Experience in Building Civil Society

A group of 17 Iraqi NGO leaders, governors and members of Parliament came to Slovakia to learn first-hand from Slovakia's experience of building democratic institutions, sponsored by The Slovak Atlantic Commission. On February 21 the Embassy hosted a video conference between the Iraqi group and Ambassador Christopher W. Ross, Senior Advisor in the Office of Iraq in the Bureau of New Eastern Affairs at the U.S. State Department. The discussion focused on the very problematic issue of building NGO capacity in Iraq. Following the DVC, Ambassador Rodolphe Vallee hosted the Iraqi delegation at a reception in their honor. Attending were Slovak Parliamentarians, other government officials and press. After meeting the delegation, Slovak Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska said, "Slovakia supports Iraq in developing both its military and its economy and Iraq can also utilize our experience in building democratic institutions."