The meetings of the NATO Archives Committee were held with remarkable success on 21 and 22 May 2026 at the “Yiannos Kranidiotis” Amphitheatre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece. Hosting the Committee’s proceedings in Athens constitutes a particular honour for Greece, as this marked the first time that the NATO Archives Committee convened outside Brussels, an event of particular symbolic significance.
The initiative to organize the Committee’s meeting in Athens was undertaken by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Teresa Angelatou, and by the Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives, which represents Greece within the Committee. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcoming remarks were delivered by the Director of the D2 NATO Directorate, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, who welcomed the approximately 100 participants to Greece.
On the occasion of the Committee’s proceedings in Athens, the Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a lecture delivered by the Head of the NATO Archives, Mr. Nicholas Roche, entitled: “Archiving an Alliance – how the NATO Archives collects, preserves and provides access to information” at the Ministry’s “Yiannos Kranidiotis” Amphitheatre on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The lecture was followed by a high-level exchange of views and experiences with Greek historians and archivists attending the event — an initiative unprecedented since the establishment of the NATO Archives in 1999.
During his presentation, Nicholas Roche outlined the historical evolution of the NATO Archives, their institutional framework and their role in preserving, safeguarding and promoting the archival heritage of the Alliance. In addition, he referred to the principal activities and responsibilities of the Archives, as well as to the work and functioning of the NATO Archives Committee.
May 28, 2026