On 21 April 2023, Course Members of the 29th NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC-29) celebrated their graduation upon completion of a 10-week curriculum, with a Graduation Ceremony at the NATO Defense College (NDC).
The event was marked by the distinguished presence of H.E. Minister Plenipotentiary Alessandro Azzoni, Deputy Senior Political Director and Director for Security at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the NRCC Graduation guest speaker. Upon arrival, H.E. Mr Azzoni signed the Guest Book and had an office call with the NDC Dean, Dr Christopher M. Schnaubelt.
The Ceremony started with an introductory speech by the NDC Dean, in which he talked about the Course objectives, some of the highlights of the past 10 weeks, and the importance of the wonderful community that was formed during this period. The Dean then gave the floor to the distinguished guest speaker, H.E. Mr Azzoni, for the Graduation Address, in which he talked about the importance of NATO and the importance of the partnerships that the Alliance has formed and fosters, also quoting from NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept:
The Graduation Address was followed by a Q&A session with great interest from the Course Members.
Thereafter, the NRCC-29 Course President, Brigadier General Mohamed Naceur Hayouni (TUN A), delivered a heartfelt farewell speech – he addressed the NDC Faculty and staff, thanking them all for making him and his fellow Course Members feel at home at the College. He also thanked his fellow Course Members for their time spent working together, commending them for the way they performed on the Course, for being their unique selves, and expressing his wish for them to stay in touch now that their time at the NDC is finished.
Finally, the Head of the Partner Courses Branch – the NDC section in charge of the NRCC, Colonel Angelo Iachetti (ITA A), called on Course Members to receive their diplomas from H.E. Mr Azzoni and the NDC Dean. The award of diplomas to the newly graduated Course Members concluded the Ceremony.
The Graduation Ceremony was attended by Ambassadors to Rome, diplomats and Defence Attachés, Italian military authorities, distinguished guests, and the Course Members’ families.
The NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC) is the Alliance’s major educational outreach activity to Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) countries and other partners from the broader region of the Middle East. This 10-week strategic-level Course is offered twice each year, once in spring and again in the fall, and was developed in direct response to the decision by Alliance Heads of State and Government at the Riga Summit in November 2006 to promote closer dialogue and intensified cooperation in the field of education.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Preparedy by Ms Zsofia Juhasz, HUN C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN