Senior Course 123 Transatlantic Link Field Study: Visit to New York

Senior Course 123 (SC 123) began its Transatlantic Link Field Study on 5th November, in New York City. Course Members began their busy schedule with a visit to the German House, the seat of the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations, which often hosts the SC for briefings by UN officials. Here, the group was graciously welcomed by Col Andreas Stoebe, Germany’s Military Advisor to the UN.

Col Kim Bruno Petersen and Ms EIrini Lemos-Maniati, NATO’s military and civilian Liaison Officers to the UN, started the session. Col Peterson delivered a briefing on UN-NATO relations, underlining the importance of the UN participation in NATO-led operations such as those in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Libya. Ms Lemos-Maniati outlined recent developments in UN-NATO relations, focusing on the 2008 Joint Declaration as a vital step towards enhanced cooperation and political dialogue between the two organizations. The challenges involved were highlighted, but also the major improvements in practical areas such as training and exercising together. A lively Q&A session followed.

The next speaker was Mr David Haeri, Director of the Department of Policy, Evaluation and Training, who described ongoing UN operations. With 115,582 personnel from 116 different countries currently involved, the speaker examined levels of national contribution to UN missions, both financially and in terms of troops. He underlined the increasing scale of UN peacekeeping activities, as a function of the legitimacy which the UN’s global membership gives to these operations. Emphasis was also given to the concept that UN peacekeeping operations should be based on the principle of consent and impartiality, without the use of force. In this overall setting, respect for the rule of law and commitment to human rights monitoring were singled out as major priorities. Given the many challenges to be addressed worldwide, the relationship with NATO is an increasingly crucial factor.

Maj Gen Adrian Foster, Deputy Military Advisor in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), then invited a team of experts to address SC 123. Col Willem Van Dullemen, Special Assistant to the Office of Military Affairs (OMA) in the DPKO, gave an overview of the Department’s structure and functions, underlining the close integration of its civilian components. The following speaker provided a frank and honest account of peacekeeping challenges for the UN, focusing on the need for impartial appraisal of potential UN operations. At the end of the briefings, Course Members engaged the speakers on a range of issues.

The last session of the day was a panel discussion with Military Staff Committee representatives from France, Russia, the UK and the USA – four of the five Permanent UN Security Council Members (the “P-5”). After short self-introductions, each representative briefly explained major features of his nation’s position on current UN matters. They also commented on their respective national contributions and support to UN missions, and on operational engagement of civilian and military personnel. The session closed with an extensive and very informative discussion, offering Course Members unique insight into the dynamics of the P-5.

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