Tenth NATO Regional Cooperation Course – Field Study to Brussels

On Wednesday 30 October, members of the tenth NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC 10) began the second part of their Field Study, in Belgium. Included in this trip were visits to NATO Headquarters and SHAPE. A two-day programme of meetings, briefings and discussions held at both institutions provided NRCC Course Members with an updated and comprehensive view of transatlantic and regional issues.

The visit began at NATO Headquarters, where the delegation was welcomed and addressed by the Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee, LtGen Mark Schissler (USA AF). The group was then briefed by RAdm Paolo Sandalli (ITA N), Deputy Director of the Plans and Policy Division; BrigGen Ivan Caruso (ITA A), Deputy Director of the Cooperation and Regional Security Division; and MajGen Simon Porter (GBR A), Supreme Allied Commander Transformation’s Representative in Europe.

NRCC Course Members then moved to SHAPE, where they were addressed by a number of authoritative personalities. The opening remarks were given by MajGen Haluk Çetinkaya (TUR A), Deputy Chief of Staff Military Partnership, followed by important briefings on specific issues: Operations Issues in the Middle East and North Africa, by LtCol Janos Poloskei (HUN A), representative of the Task Force Middle East and North Africa in the Comprehensive Crisis and Operations Management Centre (CCOMC); and the Force Generation Process, by LtCol Halvor Bjornbeth (NOR AF), Executive Officer for Force Generation in the CCOMC.

Finally, the delegation was joined by LtCol Pascal Lecrivain (FRA A), from the Coordination and Integration Division of the Military Partnership, in a Q&A session led by MajGen Çetinkaya.

On the final day of the stay in Brussels and of the Field Study in general, Course Members returned to NATO Headquarters for a full schedule of meetings and discussions on specific NATO matters. The group was briefed by, and engaged in discussions with, a number of speakers: Mr Nicola de Santis (ITA C), Head of the Middle East and North Africa Section in the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, on NATO’s New Strategic Concept, the Mediterranean and the Middle East; Dr Jaroslaw Skonieczka (POL C), Senior Director of the Integration, Partnership and Cooperation Directorate in the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, on NATO’s Partnership Policy; Dr Jamie Shea (GBR C), Deputy Assistant Secretary General of the Emerging Security Challenges Division, on New Emerging Security Challenges; and Dr Petr Lunak (CZE C), Deputy Head of the Engagement Section in the Public Diplomacy Division, on NATO-Russia relations. The day was completed by meetings with distinguished authorities, including H.E. Ambassador Mehmet Fatih Ceylan (TUR C), Permanent Representative of Turkey to the North Atlantic Council; H.E. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow (USA C), NATO Deputy Secretary General; Mr Manuel Acerete (ESP C), Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain to the North Atlantic Council; and Ms Catherine Flumiani (ITA C), First Counsellor of the Permanent Delegation of Italy to the North Atlantic Council.

This comprehensive and enlightening visit to Brussels, preceded by the visit to Jordan, successfully concluded the Field Study, providing Course Members with the essential knowledge to effectively continue their studies.

NDC Pubic Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Giulia Amparo Bruni Roccia)