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Gintė Damušytė is the only female ambassador to Nato. Since the founding of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, until the day when Lithuania was officially invited to join in 2002, representation was an exclusively male domain. It is no surprise then that it took a while for Nato to adapt to the new female presence. The ambassadress jokes about her first meeting after her appointment to Brussels. "I was accompanying Antanas Valionis, the foreign minister. The staff at the meeting directed me to a booth, saying 'Interpreters work over here.' I had to explain that I was an ambassador, not an interpreter. "Of course, at that time Lithuania was not a fully fledged member. A female ambassador was not a common sight. It was a historic breakthrough." There is a sculpture of a bison in her office, with an inscription by the US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld: "To His Excellency Ambassador". It is yet one more indication of the fact that we are in a male world. “Areas like national security, defence and the army have traditionally been dominated by men. These are careers usually pursued by men, although the situation has been changing lately. "I am a member of the Nato Pink Ribbon caucus, which originated to bring together women employed by Nato, and I have noticed that the number of women in the field is gradually increasing. "I have frequently been used as an example to encourage other countries to appoint female ambassadors too. But I do not intend to put undue emphasis on my gender, as I was appointed to represent Lithuania. It is not my femininity but the interests of the country that is my number one priority. "However, I strongly support the policy of encouraging females with the right qualifications to pursue careers in unconventional fields." Nato is a political as well as a military organisation. Being active in it means not only understanding politics. It also means discussing military operations and armaments. Asked whether, with her degree in political science, she does not feel a little ignorant about military affairs, the ambassadress is not perturbed. "Of course I have to have some understanding of military matters. But our delegation at Nato also includes a military representation, headed by General Edvardas Mažeikis. We often discuss matters together before we form our position. "I represent our position on the North Atlantic Council, while General Mažeikis takes it to the Military Committee. Armies implement the political decisions of their countries, so the integration of their efforts is of major importance. "Military issues arise on a political level as well. As everyone knows, Nato is undergoing a process of transformation. The idea of this is adaptation to the new security environment. This is one more area requiring our attention. “In general, we operate as a group of almost thirty individuals, each as an expert in his field. I am expected to present a broader picture for our political and strategic discussions. The unified opinion of Nato With her logical personality, inclined towards reasoning, and with a gift for the exact sciences, Damušytė prefers the clearly defined operations of the Alliance to other international organisations that she has been posted to as a diplomat, such as the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. "These organisations also perform important functions, and they are absolutely necessary. Comparing the United Nations, the OSCE and Nato, I have noticed some big differences. "It's clear that members of Nato share common values and seek consensus for joint actions. Political decisions are made in a more expeditious manner. Member states take an active part in the decision making. In the United Nations, however, this process is longer and more difficult. "The Alliance comprises European and North American democratic countries that want to safeguard their freedom, and this is the basis of the transatlantic relationship. "Like every healthy family, members may occasionally disagree. But they usually find areas of common interest for unifying their efforts. "In the United Nations, countries have so many different interests that a consensus is very difficult to achieve. The texts of UN resolutions are so diluted that their content is sometimes hard to decipher. This is less so with Nato documents." While passing a display of banners of Nato countries at Headquarters in Brussels, we naturally start discussing the developments in Lithuania over the past few years. Damušytė shares some of her memories of the most exciting days when Lithuania was getting ready for membership. "The most unforgettable day was probably the eleventh of September 2001, with the historic decision by the North Atlantic Council to formally invoke Article Five of the Washington Treaty, enacting the right to self-defence, relating it to the actions of the USA. "On the following day, member countries met to express their solidarity. I was involved in developing the Vilnius Group Statement on this particular issue, which was accepted favourably by member states. Secretary General George Robertson expressed his appreciation of our clearly defined position." Her second most memorable day was the country's accession to Nato, 29 March 2004, with a ceremony held in Washington DC, and several days later with the flag-raising ceremony at Nato Headquarters in Brussels. "While I was watching the ceremony, I found it hard to believe my eyes. For a number of years the aspiration to become a member had seemed to be a huge challenge, like a target that was almost impossible to achieve. "There was a time when Nato expansion was not even on the agenda. Lithuania was well aware of the sensitivity of the country's geographical position. But there was a breakthrough, and we became a fully fledged member and our participation was raised to a higher level. "We got involved, and remain involved, in active cooperation with member countries. As Nato is a military organisation, the reliability of members is crucial. Cooperation is intense, dialogues are open, and I am absolutely convinced that our voice is being heard. "The vision of the present secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, is correct. To ensure the success of the Alliance as a military alliance and as the main forum for transatlantic dialogue on security issues, Nato must remain an active political player." A hostage of Nato It takes 15 minutes by car, which she navigates skilfully along the busy streets of Brussels, to get from Nato Headquarters to her residence in a peaceful residential district. She usually gets home when it is already dark, as social events and diplomatic receptions take up an important part of her busy schedule. "If I plan to go to a concert or a dinner party, I usually try to get back earlier. But if I have no plans, my working day lasts until seven in the evening. "It's a long day, and that's what's most difficult. Your work docs not end with the end of the working day. If I compare this to working in a bilateral embassy, this is a lot more demanding. I feel as if I'm a hostage of Nato." Damušytė, who has already been ambassador to Austria, notes that she used to be able to manage her own time more freely and to schedule her meetings. But now she devotes all her time to meetings, reports and negotiating positions. "I'm normally up at five, as I got used to that while I was at university, and now I find it difficult to break the habit. But, to tell you the truth, the early morning is the only time that I can call my own." She sees her residence as just an ordinary flat, but she has chosen a place with a large terrace and a view of a park. She loves the light and the space, which can accommodate large groups of visitors for receptions. She usually holds receptions in a restaurant, however, and uses her private space for more informal gatherings of friends and visitors. A long journey home New York was an important stage on her road to Lithuania. Damušytė moved there after graduating in history and politics from Detroit University. She was the head of the Lithuanian Information Center, designed to keep foreign politicians and diplomats informed on the situation in Lithuania during the period of the National Revival. She became involved with the press, writing for Radio Free Europe. The centre was seen as a reliable source of information, and Damušytė was acknowledged as an expert in Lithuanian politics. After the restoration of independence, the centre closed. Having rejected the possibility of becoming a US diplomat some time before, in 1991 she accepted an offer from Vilnius to join the diplomatic corps of the newly restored state. She became involved in establishing the country's representation at the United Nations. To the surprise of her American friends, she did not feel she had lost out on something. The greatest difference was in the salary. But the money issue was not of primary importance. As she had always enjoyed helping in important matters, she felt she had found the right place by joining the diplomatic service. She accepted it as a challenge to be employed by a diplomatic corps that was only creating its foundations, with a view to further expansion. Looking back at her first years with the United Nations, she recalls how little guidance she received. All she had was regular communication with Vilnius. The role was new, and they had to start from scratch. She felt jealous of representatives of other countries that had been with the UN for years. All they had to do was to adjust existing positions. But she thoroughly appreciated the novelty of her work as a new Lithuanian diplomat. Her place of birth and her educational background make Damušytė American; but by the education she received in her family and from her close friends, she is a true Lithuanian. Her father, Professor Adolfas Damušis, was arrested during the Nazi occupation for his resistance activities against the Third Reich, and was one of the leaders of an uprising against Nazi rule. He was put in prison in Germany. "The family went to search for him. But when the war was over, we could not possibly go back to Lithuania." Having survived imprisonment in Germany, and assisted by his friends, Damušis ended up after the war in America. There he became a member of the Ateitininkai movement. Lithuanian ways have been familiar to the children of Damusis since their childhood. In her Brussels sitting room, among the family pictures, the most precious one is of herself and her elder sister standing and holding hands. The picture was taken in the Ateitininkai camp in Detroit, a favourite camp of many young Americans of Lithuanian descent for over 50 years. "I'm not going to deny my American background. I'm proud of the American part of my life, and I'm sincerely grateful to the country that gave refuge to my family," Damušytė says. "But my closest friends since childhood have been Lithuanian. I have always felt at home in a Lithuanian environment. “For the past ten years I have been living in Europe, and I can say that I do not intend to go back to the United States. My life is tied to Lithuania, and Vilnius is my home. "I would love to go back to Vilnius. I have a great affection for Brussels. I find working for Nato truly exciting. Yet I'm ready to face new projects and new challenges in Vilnius." Linas Balsys

Gintė Damušytė is the only female ambassador to Nato. Since the founding of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, until the day when Lithuania was officially invited to join in 2002, representation was an exclusively male domain. It is no surprise then that it took a while for Nato to adapt to the new female presence.

The ambassadress jokes about her first meeting after her appointment to Brussels. "I was accompanying Antanas Valionis, the foreign minister. The staff at the meeting directed me to a booth, saying 'Interpreters work over here.' I had to explain that I was an ambassador, not an interpreter.

"Of course, at that time Lithuania was not a fully fledged member. A female ambassador was not a common sight. It was a historic breakthrough."

There is a sculpture of a bison in her office, with an inscription by the US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld: "To His Excellency Ambassador". It is yet one more indication of the fact that we are in a male world.

“Areas like national security, defence and the army have traditionally been dominated by men. These are careers usually pursued by men, although the situation has been changing lately.

"I am a member of the Nato Pink Ribbon caucus, which originated to bring together women employed by Nato, and I have noticed that the number of women in the field is gradually increasing.

"I have frequently been used as an example to encourage other countries to appoint female ambassadors too. But I do not intend to put undue emphasis on my gender, as I was appointed to represent Lithuania. It is not my femininity but the interests of the country that is my number one priority.

"However, I strongly support the policy of encouraging females with the right qualifications to pursue careers in unconventional fields."

Nato is a political as well as a military organisation. Being active in it means not only understanding politics. It also means discussing military operations and armaments. Asked whether, with her degree in political science, she does not feel a little ignorant about military affairs, the ambassadress is not perturbed.

"Of course I have to have some understanding of military matters. But our delegation at Nato also includes a military representation, headed by General Edvardas Mažeikis. We often discuss matters together before we form our position.

"I represent our position on the North Atlantic Council, while General Mažeikis takes it to the Military Committee. Armies implement the political decisions of their countries, so the integration of their efforts is of major importance.

"Military issues arise on a political level as well. As everyone knows, Nato is undergoing a process of transformation. The idea of this is adaptation to the new security environment. This is one more area requiring our attention.

“In general, we operate as a group of almost thirty individuals, each as an expert in his field. I am expected to present a broader picture for our political and strategic discussions.

The unified opinion of Nato

With her logical personality, inclined towards reasoning, and with a gift for the exact sciences, Damušytė prefers the clearly defined operations of the Alliance to other international organisations that she has been posted to as a diplomat, such as the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

"These organisations also perform important functions, and they are absolutely necessary. Comparing the United Nations, the OSCE and Nato, I have noticed some big differences.

"It's clear that members of Nato share common values and seek consensus for joint actions. Political decisions are made in a more expeditious manner. Member states take an active part in the decision making. In the United Nations, however, this process is longer and more difficult.

"The Alliance comprises European and North American democratic countries that want to safeguard their freedom, and this is the basis of the transatlantic relationship.

"Like every healthy family, members may occasionally disagree. But they usually find areas of common interest for unifying their efforts.

"In the United Nations, countries have so many different interests that a consensus is very difficult to achieve. The texts of UN resolutions are so diluted that their content is sometimes hard to decipher. This is less so with Nato documents."

While passing a display of banners of Nato countries at Headquarters in Brussels, we naturally start discussing the developments in Lithuania over the past few years.

Damušytė shares some of her memories of the most exciting days when Lithuania was getting ready for membership.

"The most unforgettable day was probably the eleventh of September 2001, with the historic decision by the North Atlantic Council to formally invoke Article Five of the Washington Treaty, enacting the right to self-defence, relating it to the actions of the USA.

"On the following day, member countries met to express their solidarity. I was involved in developing the Vilnius Group Statement on this particular issue, which was accepted favourably by member states. Secretary General George Robertson expressed his appreciation of our clearly defined position."

Her second most memorable day was the country's accession to Nato, 29 March 2004, with a ceremony held in Washington DC, and several days later with the flag-raising ceremony at Nato Headquarters in Brussels.

"While I was watching the ceremony, I found it hard to believe my eyes. For a number of years the aspiration to become a member had seemed to be a huge challenge, like a target that was almost impossible to achieve.

"There was a time when Nato expansion was not even on the agenda. Lithuania was well aware of the sensitivity of the country's geographical position. But there was a breakthrough, and we became a fully fledged member and our participation was raised to a higher level.

"We got involved, and remain involved, in active cooperation with member countries. As Nato is a military organisation, the reliability of members is crucial. Cooperation is intense, dialogues are open, and I am absolutely convinced that our voice is being heard.

"The vision of the present secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, is correct. To ensure the success of the Alliance as a military alliance and as the main forum for transatlantic dialogue on security issues, Nato must remain an active political player."

A hostage of Nato

It takes 15 minutes by car, which she navigates skilfully along the busy streets of Brussels, to get from Nato Headquarters to her residence in a peaceful residential district. She usually gets home when it is already dark, as social events and diplomatic receptions take up an important part of her busy schedule.

"If I plan to go to a concert or a dinner party, I usually try to get back earlier. But if I have no plans, my working day lasts until seven in the evening.

"It's a long day, and that's what's most difficult. Your work docs not end with the end of the working day. If I compare this to working in a bilateral embassy, this is a lot more demanding. I feel as if I'm a hostage of Nato."

Damušytė, who has already been ambassador to Austria, notes that she used to be able to manage her own time more freely and to schedule her meetings. But now she devotes all her time to meetings, reports and negotiating positions.

"I'm normally up at five, as I got used to that while I was at university, and now I find it difficult to break the habit. But, to tell you the truth, the early morning is the only time that I can call my own."

She sees her residence as just an ordinary flat, but she has chosen a place with a large terrace and a view of a park. She loves the light and the space, which can accommodate large groups of visitors for receptions. She usually holds receptions in a restaurant, however, and uses her private space for more informal gatherings of friends and visitors.

A long journey home

New York was an important stage on her road to Lithuania. Damušytė moved there after graduating in history and politics from Detroit University. She was the head of the Lithuanian Information Center, designed to keep foreign politicians and diplomats informed on the situation in Lithuania during the period of the National Revival.

She became involved with the press, writing for Radio Free Europe. The centre was seen as a reliable source of information, and Damušytė was acknowledged as an expert in Lithuanian politics.

After the restoration of independence, the centre closed. Having rejected the possibility of becoming a US diplomat some time before, in 1991 she accepted an offer from Vilnius to join the diplomatic corps of the newly restored state.

She became involved in establishing the country's representation at the United Nations. To the surprise of her American friends, she did not feel she had lost out on something.

The greatest difference was in the salary. But the money issue was not of primary importance. As she had always enjoyed helping in important matters, she felt she had found the right place by joining the diplomatic service. She accepted it as a challenge to be employed by a diplomatic corps that was only creating its foundations, with a view to further expansion.

Looking back at her first years with the United Nations, she recalls how little guidance she received. All she had was regular communication with Vilnius. The role was new, and they had to start from scratch.

She felt jealous of representatives of other countries that had been with the UN for years. All they had to do was to adjust existing positions. But she thoroughly appreciated the novelty of her work as a new Lithuanian diplomat.

Her place of birth and her educational background make Damušytė American; but by the education she received in her family and from her close friends, she is a true Lithuanian. Her father, Professor Adolfas Damušis, was arrested during the Nazi occupation for his resistance activities against the Third Reich, and was one of the leaders of an uprising against Nazi rule. He was put in prison in Germany.

"The family went to search for him. But when the war was over, we could not possibly go back to Lithuania."

Having survived imprisonment in Germany, and assisted by his friends, Damušis ended up after the war in America. There he became a member of the Ateitininkai movement.

Lithuanian ways have been familiar to the children of Damusis since their childhood. In her Brussels sitting room, among the family pictures, the most precious one is of herself and her elder sister standing and holding hands. The picture was taken in the Ateitininkai camp in Detroit, a favourite camp of many young Americans of Lithuanian descent for over 50 years.

"I'm not going to deny my American background. I'm proud of the American part of my life, and I'm sincerely grateful to the country that gave refuge to my family," Damušytė says.

"But my closest friends since childhood have been Lithuanian. I have always felt at home in a Lithuanian environment.

“For the past ten years I have been living in Europe, and I can say that I do not intend to go back to the United States. My life is tied to Lithuania, and Vilnius is my home.

"I would love to go back to Vilnius. I have a great affection for Brussels. I find working for Nato truly exciting. Yet I'm ready to face new projects and new challenges in Vilnius."

Linas Balsys