On Thursday 11th and Friday 12th October, the NATO Defense College (NDC) in Rome hosted the 59th edition of the Anciens’ Annual Conference and Seminar, a traditional two-day event that brings together members of the Anciens’ Association.
The Association counts more than 7,000 members all over the world, who have attended the NDC at various times since its foundation in 1951. Their lasting ties with the College, and the professional network that they provide to current Course Members, add great value to the educational experience offered by the NDC, helping to build firm friendships and mutual esteem. The positions of great responsibility which many Anciens hold, whether in the civil service of their respective nations or in the Alliance, are a fitting reflection of the extremely high educational standards set by the College and of their importance for participating nations.
This year the academic highlights of the reunion made for a particularly busy schedule on Friday, with the Annual General Meeting of the Anciens’ Association and an exceptionally interesting Seminar entitled “The Future of the Transatlantic Link”. The audience was welcomed by the Commandant of the College, LtGen Arne Bård Dalhaug, who then introduced guest of honour H.E. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, NATO Deputy Secretary General. Ambassador Vershbow offered a cogent description of the international scenario for the Alliance after the Chicago Summit, developing three key points. The initial focus of the speech was today’s NATO main operational priority, Afghanistan. On this point, the Ambassador outlined the main objectives of the mission and the timeline for Allied withdrawal of military forces in 2014. The second element addressed was the progress of the Alliance in the field of capabilities, in particular in the area of Smart Defence, the NATO Response Force and Missile Defence. Against this background, the speaker also spoke of several current opportunities and challenges. Changing focus in the last part of his talk, Ambassador Vershbow analyzed the state of NATO partnership policy, with special emphasis on Georgia, Ukraine and current NATO relations with the Russian Federation. This part of the seminar then concluded with an extremely thought-provoking Q&A session which afforded Anciens, Course Members and College Staff the opportunity to explore a variety of complementary perspectives on the topic.
The future of the transatlantic link was further addressed by a panel of two speakers: Mr. Bill Graham, Chairman of the Atlantic Council of Canada, and Mr. Hans-Ulrich Klose, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the German Government. Both speakers focused mainly on current relations between North American and European members of the Alliance, before engaging in a lively discussion with the audience.
The aim of the Annual Conference of Anciens is twofold:
- To maintain and improve contacts and friendships among Anciens, and between Anciens and current Course Members at the NDC;
- To afford Anciens up-to-date insight into issues that are relevant to NATO, thus empowering them as informed and influential actors in international relations.
In this overall setting, the Anciens’ Seminar provides an excellent forum for former NDC Course Members to discuss their perspectives on NATO-related matters. It is also an opportunity for them to share memories of the instructive and stimulating time they spent at the College.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Eleonora Fuser, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 
