On 18 and 19 May 2009 the 38th edition of the Conference of Commandants is taking place in Rome, co-hosted by the NATO Defense College, the Italian General Staff and the Italian CASD.
This year’s Conference of Commandants, chaired by the Commandant of the NATO Defense College, Lt Gen. Wolf-Dieter LOESER, is entitled: “The Comprehensive Approach to Crisis Response, Crisis Management and Education”. The aim is to foster the exchange of information and ideas among authorities who share similar responsibilities in the field of higher defence education and training.
This year 70 different institutions from 50 countries are taking part in the event, resulting in a total of 127 participants. For the first time, two new members of the Alliance, Albania and Croatia, are represented.
In his opening speech Gen. Camporini highlighted the role of education and training institutions in the preparation of officers and officials from every country for their NATO responsibilities. “There is no alternative to the comprehensive approach,” Gen. Camporini said. Nowadays the only ways to solve conflicts are by evaluating personnel and preparing them not only for combat and strictly operational tasks, but also for participation in the overall civil-military efforts to reconstruct regions that have been theatres of war. Only through this complex process can security and stability be achieved.
After the keynote addresses by Gen. P.J.M. GODDERIJ (NLD A), NATO Director, International Military Staff (DIMS) and by Mr Robert F. SIMMONS (NATO C), NATO International Staff Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Security and Partnership, Lt Gen. Wolf-Dieter LOESER chaired a Q&A period that underlined the conference delegates’ strong interest in the subject matter.
NDC PAO
NATO Defense College