16 Nov. 2003

The International Military Staff (IMS) Wives' Club Christmas Bazaar   Multimedia Official photos of the opening ceremony with Vice Admiral Sir Paul and Lady Haddacks, General Harald Kujat and Mrs. Sabine Kujat and photos of the stands and ladies. Links List of charities receiving donations. The IMS Wives ‘Club hosted a Christmas Bazaar on 16 November 2003 at which over Euro 94,467.58 was raised for charity. This yearly event has become a favourite in the NATO social calendar. Military wives from 30 nations come together in Christmas good cheer to sell a wide variety of produce from culinary specialities to intricate handcrafted items. The proceeds from the Bazaar are donated to support Belgian charities and, this year, 3 international charities. Each nation has its own stand offering items either made or imported by the women from that nation. The IMS Wives club started up in 1967 and was formed to bring together all the wives of the officers of NATO’s International Military Staff (IMS). It provided an opportunity to make friends within the international community and to develop a “family” feeling within the IMS. In 1968 the IMS Wives Club decided to organise the first NATO Wives’ Bazaar – a rather modest bring-and-buy event – and the profits were devoted to the “Save the Children Fund”. Since then, the Bazaar has developed into a major pre-Christmas fund-raising event, and a means of thanking NATO’s host nation, Belgium, by supporting some of its charities. The IMS Wives Club undertakes many other social activities throughout the year. Its President is Lady Haddacks, whose husband, Vice Admiral Sir Paul Haddacks is the Director of the International Military Staff. The Patrons of the NATO Wives Bazaar are: The Rt.Hon. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, NATO’s Secretary General Mrs. S. Kujat, (wife of General Harald Kujat, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee) Mrs.G. Minuto-Rizzo, (wife of Ambassador Alessandro Minuto Rizzo, NATO’s Deputy Secretary General)