Gothenburg, an informal, very formal meeting
(BRUSSELS2) The "informal" meeting of Defense Ministers will not have failed in tradition. It was informal only in name.... The improvised meeting between delegates and journalists, at the corner of a coffee or a cigarette break, which makes the charm and the interest of these meetings, was somewhat lacking . And it becomes a habit. These "informal" meetings become, in fact, very formal, with very few exceptions.
Control over communication, essential. They will answer me: number of delegations, safety rules, need for good organization. I only half believe it. Behind all these laudable and real constraints, there is also the desire to control communication. Obviously for the journalist, the interest is enormous: to have "on hand" a concentration of managers concerned with the same subject, and therefore to be able (more or less) quickly to identify the true from the false, the hidden issues of the issues announced. The risk is therefore real for a presidency to see the situation get out of hand. And the urge to control everything is tempting. This does not change from one presidency to another. Under the French presidency, it was very visible (read "Deauville, really informal?"). Under the Swedish presidency, it was very discreet, but just as present (read the short arctic sea ticket).
The ballet is well tuned. The delegations arrive at the official entrance. The Minister smiles at the journalists, who are "parked" behind a cordon. He smiles, hesitates, then heads (often with good grace) towards the cameras and strained microphones. The time for 2-3 questions on the fly, where each journalist is looking for a short sentence, an answer to a question. “Are you worried about Iran? "Are you sending reinforcements to Afghanistan?" "What do you decide for the battlegroups?...". The Minister answers in an evasive way often, sometimes in a more clear or lapidary way. And then goes on the red carpet, to enter the work room… During coffee breaks, one or the other leaves the room, often for an arranged meeting with a few journalists. And then there is the organized or somewhat improvised press conference. But still framed. In fact, a classic...
Appointments are organized by press officer or intermediary liaison officer (each of the officials is flanked by a person delegated by the Swedish presidency to guide him and facilitate contacts with the host authorities). Of course, the journalists manage… We can organize contacts in the hotels, at breakfast. Or arrange to be on the "good" side, delegations, to "wander" a bit and meet one or the other. But it's always quick or stealth.
